Following nearly annihilating our planet, the families are allies’: a gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, humanity veered closer toward annihilation more so than ever during the contemporary era. This happened after a US reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine around Cuba. What followed was almost 14 days of extreme anxiety.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat was palpable. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a cascade involving worldwide atomic strikes and counterstrikes could have ensued, casting humanity into all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been covered extensively, through volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new dimension into the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men that, for 13 days, controlled the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Russians planning? What was Washington planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people detest one another to the point they confront one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that people have the potential to be friends or can become total adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now a writer and attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to fight."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is notable regarding this event is that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens worldwide were able to observe almost in real time while it crept towards armageddon. However, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would've destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements around them was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which portrayed an alternative narrative of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly fine or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that perspective would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed , well produced that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to learn