Following nearly annihilating the planet, our relatives have become allies’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, humanity edged nearer to annihilation more so than ever during the contemporary era. This happened after an American reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Russian nuclear weapon sites were under construction in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase was almost 14 days filled with impossible tension.

The Unthinkable Danger

The danger was obvious. Should Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction of global atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, thrusting mankind into all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented perspective into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders who, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What were Washington considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "How can people hate one another to the point they confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that people can be friends or can become total enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is 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 nearly as it happened as it crept closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation came closer than most people realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have obliterated the aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary naval force. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, for those 13 days in October, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a scary day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly wonderful or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, though, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, due to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most significant thing remains 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 to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate because we connected really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp