Following nearly annihilating the planet, the relatives are friends’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, humanity came nearer toward destruction more so than ever in recent history. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance plane identified that Russian atomic weapon installations were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine around the island. The ensuing period was nearly two weeks of unbearable anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The danger was palpable. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series involving worldwide atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes might have followed, thrusting civilization toward total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented endlessly, in volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new element to the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders who, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Russians considering? What was the American side thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the podcast is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do nations detest one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that humans can be friends or else have the potential to be complete enemies," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over when nations have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly involved to fight."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s notable regarding this event was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people around the world could watch almost as it happened as it crept towards armageddon. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always fine and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. Subsequently, though, that perspective would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced and expertly crafted that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most significant thing is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after almost six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to grasp