Following almost annihilating our planet, our families have become friends’: a thrilling podcast from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the world edged closer to destruction more so than ever during recent history. This happened when an American surveillance plane identified that Russian atomic weapon sites were being built on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly 14 days filled with unbearable anxiety.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained clear. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a series of worldwide nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, casting humanity toward total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, through books, movies, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented element into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men that, for two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What were the American side thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can individuals hate one another to the point they go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that humans have the potential to be friends or else can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is striking regarding this event was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time while it moved closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have sunk our naval vessels as well as sunk our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Later on, though, that view was not held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of hope.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate because we connected really well and we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend