Following almost annihilating the world, our relatives are allies’: the gripping audio series featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, humanity edged nearer to destruction than at any other point during modern times. This occurred after a US reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were being assembled on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to enact a maritime blockade encircling the island. The next phase constituted almost two weeks filled with extreme tension.

An Catastrophic Danger

The threat was clear. Should President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, thrusting mankind toward all-out ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered extensively, through volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented perspective to the story. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men that, for two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What were the United States planning?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic of global relations.

In her view, the strength of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can nations hate one another and confront one another?"

"It struck me how profound it is that people can be friends or can become complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What is remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens globally were able to observe nearly as it happened as it edged closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have sunk the naval vessels and sunk America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when many advisors around them was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

A Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative narrative of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly wonderful or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate because we connected immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn