Following nearly destroying the planet, the families have become friends’: a thrilling podcast from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity edged closer toward annihilation than at any other point during recent history. This transpired when an American surveillance plane identified the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were being built on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine around Cuba. The next phase was nearly a fortnight of impossible tension.

An Catastrophic Threat

The peril was palpable. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a series of global nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes would have followed, thrusting mankind into all-out oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered extensively, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented dimension into the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders who, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What was the American side planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do nations hate each other and confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that humans can be friends or have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it crept towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction came closer than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would have obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them demanded action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of hope.

A Different Perspective

Still, for those 13 days in October, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, though, that view was not shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we got along really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp