Following nearly destroying the world, our families are friends’: a gripping podcast from JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, humanity came closer to destruction than at any other point in modern times. This happened when an American reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Russian atomic missile installations were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted almost two weeks filled with extreme tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger was obvious. If Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a series of worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes might have followed, casting mankind into total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined extensively, in books, films, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new perspective to the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders who, over 13 days, controlled the fate of the planet in their hands.

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

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "How can individuals hate one another and confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to fight."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding this event is that, because it transpired so publicly, people around the world could watch nearly in real time as it crept towards catastrophe. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've obliterated the naval vessels as well as destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, for those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that view would not be held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , well produced that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of progress.

"We aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame since we got along really well and now we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since almost destroying the world, our families have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to learn