‘After almost destroying the planet, our families have become allies’: a gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world came nearer to annihilation than at any other point during recent history. This occurred after an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian nuclear missile installations were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval quarantine encircling the island. What followed was nearly 14 days filled with extreme tension.

An Catastrophic Danger

The danger was clear. If Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global atomic attacks and counterstrikes would have ensued, casting civilization toward total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, films, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb presents an unprecedented perspective into the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders that, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What was the American side thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the show is its endeavor to explore: "Why do individuals detest one another and oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that humans have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened while it moved towards catastrophe. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers and sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them was pushing for military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, during 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 Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly fine or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment it was, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that perspective was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame because we connected immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since almost destroying the world, our families have become allies, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn