Following nearly annihilating our world, our relatives have become allies’: the thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world edged nearer to ruin than at any other point in the contemporary era. This transpired after a US reconnaissance plane identified that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. What followed constituted almost a fortnight filled with impossible anxiety.

An Catastrophic Danger

The peril remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a cascade involving global nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, casting humanity into all-out ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, in volumes, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men that, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What were the United States thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to question: "Why do people hate each other to the point they confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that people have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author and attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

The Brink of Disaster

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide were able to observe almost in real time as it edged towards disaster. However, the danger of destruction came closer than what anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would've obliterated the aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly fine or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, though, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame since we connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to learn