Following nearly destroying our planet, the families have become allies’: a gripping audio series from JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world edged nearer to annihilation more so than ever during recent history. This occurred after an American reconnaissance plane found that Russian atomic weapon sites were under construction in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade encircling the island. The next phase was nearly two weeks of impossible stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger was clear. If President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic strikes and counterstrikes would have ensued, plunging humanity toward all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in books, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new element into the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures who, over 13 days, held the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What were the American side planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do nations hate one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that individuals can be allies or can become total adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Disaster

What is striking about this event was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals around the world could watch almost as it happened while it moved towards catastrophe. However, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would have obliterated the naval vessels and sunk our primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, with Nina being taught about it through the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different version of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly wonderful or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that perspective was not held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of America and USSR would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of progress.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we got along immediately and we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades since almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend