Following nearly destroying our world, our relatives are friends’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet came nearer to annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This transpired after an American surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade encircling the island. The next phase constituted almost 14 days of unbearable stress.

An Catastrophic Danger

The threat remained obvious. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a cascade involving worldwide atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes could have followed, plunging humanity into all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered endlessly, through volumes, films, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought an unprecedented element to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men who, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of humanity in their hands.

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

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "Why do people detest one another and go against one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that humans can be allies or else can become complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable regarding this event was that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe almost as it happened as it moved closer to armageddon. Even so, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have sunk the aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which presented a slightly different narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always wonderful and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and USSR would appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of progress.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "That is unfortunate because we connected immediately and we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to learn