Following nearly destroying our planet, our relatives have become allies’: the thrilling audio series from JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet edged closer to annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred after an American reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval quarantine around Cuba. The next phase constituted nearly two weeks of extreme stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger was obvious. Should Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a cascade involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, plunging mankind into total oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new dimension to the story. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders that, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of humanity in their hands.

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

For her, the strength of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "How can nations hate each other to the point they go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that humans can be friends or else can become total adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding this event was that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened as it crept towards catastrophe. However, the threat of destruction came closer than what anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, with Nina learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always fine and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, however, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and the USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"We are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp