Following nearly destroying our planet, the families have become allies’: a gripping audio series featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world came nearer toward destruction more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Russian atomic missile sites were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period was almost two weeks of impossible anxiety.

The Unthinkable Danger

The danger was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a series of worldwide atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, plunging mankind toward total ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, in volumes, movies, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new dimension into the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men who, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What were the United States planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can people hate one another and go against each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that humans have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently an author and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people globally could watch almost in real time as it edged towards disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's primary naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate when many advisors around them were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope.

The Different Perspective

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly fine and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view was not held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so even-handed and well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most significant thing 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 USSR to appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we got along immediately and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to comprehend