Following almost annihilating the world, our families are friends’: a gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the world veered nearer to destruction more so than ever during recent history. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft found that Russian atomic weapon bases were being built on Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. What followed was almost 14 days filled with unbearable stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a series involving worldwide nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging civilization into total destruction.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, through books, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel element into the story. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders who, over 13 days, grasped the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What was the United States considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic of global relations.

For her, the strength of the show is its attempt to explore: "Why do people detest one another and oppose one another?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that humans can be friends or else can become complete adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author and attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired so publicly, people worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened while it moved closer to armageddon. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would've destroyed our naval vessels as well as destroyed America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of hope.

The Different Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly fine or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that view would not be held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of progress.

"We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we got along really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend