Following nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become friends’: a thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the planet came nearer to annihilation more so than ever in modern times. This occurred when an American reconnaissance plane found the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were being built on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval quarantine encircling the island. What followed was nearly 14 days of extreme stress.

An Catastrophic Danger

The threat was clear. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, thrusting mankind into all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, in volumes, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented perspective to the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders who, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What were Washington planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "How can individuals detest each other and go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that people have the potential to be allies or else can become total adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author and attorney. "We see this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s striking regarding this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals worldwide could watch nearly in real time as it edged towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have obliterated our aircraft carriers and destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of hope.

A Different Perspective

Still, during those 13 days in October, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, which was a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most significant aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of America and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following almost 60 years since almost destroying the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to learn