‘After nearly annihilating our planet, the families are friends’: the gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the world veered nearer to ruin more so than ever during modern times. This transpired when a US reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Russian nuclear weapon bases were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime blockade around the island. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days of impossible stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger was clear. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a chain reaction involving global nuclear strikes and counterstrikes would have ensued, plunging mankind into all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, through volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented perspective to this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders who, over 13 days, controlled the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What were the American side planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can individuals hate each other to the point they confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that humans can be allies or else have the potential to be total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and now a writer and attorney. "We see this over and over when countries have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Disaster

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened as it moved towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the risk of destruction came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when everyone around them were advocating action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following these events, and Nina learned about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which presented a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that view was not held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. But, really, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"We aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate since we got along really well and we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages are now friends, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp