Following nearly destroying our planet, the relatives have become friends’: the gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the planet came closer toward destruction more so than ever during recent history. This happened when an American reconnaissance plane identified that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade around the island. The next phase constituted nearly two weeks of unbearable anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained obvious. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a cascade of global nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, casting civilization into all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in books, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented element to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men who, for two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What was Washington thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to question: "How can people hate one another to the point they confront one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable the fact that humans can be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author as well as attorney. "We see this over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

The Brink of Disaster

What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals globally could watch almost as it happened as it edged towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have obliterated our aircraft carriers and sunk America's largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Nina learned about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great moment it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, though, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame since we connected immediately and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of why this series seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to grasp