Following almost destroying our world, our families are friends’: a gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the world edged closer toward ruin than at any other point during the contemporary era. This transpired when a US surveillance plane identified the fact that Soviet nuclear missile sites were under construction in Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to enact a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days of unbearable anxiety.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger was clear. Should President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes could have followed, casting civilization toward all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, through books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new element into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders who, over 13 days, grasped the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What was Washington considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can nations hate one another and go against one another?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or can become total adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to fight."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about this event was that, because it transpired so publicly, people worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time while it crept closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would've obliterated our naval vessels and destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

A Different Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about it via the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative picture of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that view was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate since we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, after almost six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to learn