Following almost destroying our world, the relatives are allies’: a gripping podcast from JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, humanity veered closer to ruin than at any other point in the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft found the fact that Russian nuclear weapon sites were under construction in Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, President JFK directed a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly a fortnight of extreme stress.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained clear. If President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a chain reaction involving global atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, plunging humanity toward all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, through volumes, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures that, over 13 days, held the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What was the United States planning?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can nations hate one another and go against one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that individuals can be friends or else can become total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people globally were able to observe almost in real time as it edged closer to catastrophe. However, the danger of destruction came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed the naval vessels and destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to keep their heads while calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different version of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive thing," she continues. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of hope.

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

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend