‘After almost annihilating the world, the families are allies’: a gripping podcast featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, humanity veered closer to annihilation than at any other point in recent history. This happened when an American surveillance plane found that Soviet atomic weapon installations were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. What followed constituted nearly a fortnight of unbearable anxiety.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained clear. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a cascade of worldwide nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes would have ensued, plunging humanity into total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, in volumes, movies, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented element into the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders that, for 13 days, controlled the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What was Washington considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can nations detest one another to the point they confront each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people around the world were able to observe nearly in real time while it moved towards disaster. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would've sunk the naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "After 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become allies, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend