Following almost annihilating our planet, our relatives are friends’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the world came closer toward ruin than at any other point in the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane discovered that Russian atomic missile bases were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to enact a maritime blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted nearly two weeks of unbearable anxiety.

An Unthinkable Danger

The peril was clear. Should President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a series involving global atomic strikes and counterstrikes would have followed, casting mankind toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented element to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures who, for 13 days, held the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What was the American side thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor of global relations.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its attempt to question: "How can people detest one another to the point they oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that humans can be friends or else have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to fight."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s notable about this event was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals globally could watch almost in real time as it edged closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have destroyed the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and USSR would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the first," notes Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend