Following almost destroying the planet, the relatives have become allies’: the thrilling audio series featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, humanity edged closer to destruction more so than ever in modern times. This happened when a US surveillance aircraft identified that Soviet nuclear missile bases were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period was almost 14 days filled with unbearable stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat was obvious. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction of global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, thrusting humanity into all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, in volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents an unprecedented element into the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders who, for two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What was the United States thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can individuals hate one another and go against each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or else can become total enemies," states Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people around the world could watch nearly in real time while it crept closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've sunk our aircraft carriers and sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments was pushing for military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva learned about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Later on, however, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of hope.

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

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we connected really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend