Following almost annihilating our planet, our relatives have become friends’: a gripping audio series from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the world veered nearer to ruin more so than ever in modern times. This occurred when an American reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Russian atomic weapon sites were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine encircling the island. The next phase was nearly 14 days of unbearable tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat was obvious. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes might have followed, thrusting civilization into total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new dimension into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders that, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Russians planning? What was the American side planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "How can nations detest each other to the point they confront each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or can become complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to fight."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people globally were able to observe nearly as it happened as it moved closer to armageddon. However, the threat of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed the naval vessels and destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which portrayed an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always wonderful and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "I was informed what a great moment it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to learn