Following almost destroying the planet, our families are allies’: the gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world veered closer to destruction more so than ever in modern times. This transpired after an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic weapon bases were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine around the island. The next phase was almost 14 days filled with unbearable stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The danger remained obvious. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a series of worldwide nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, thrusting civilization into total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, in volumes, films, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb presents an unprecedented perspective to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures who, over 13 days, grasped the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What was the American side considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its attempt to question: "How can people hate one another and confront one another?"

"It struck me how profound it is that individuals can be allies or else can become complete enemies," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author and attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to fight."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded so publicly, people globally could watch almost as it happened as it crept closer to disaster. Even so, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. And, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when everyone around them demanded military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We aren't the first," smiles Nina. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we now are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn