Following almost destroying our world, the relatives have become friends’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, humanity veered closer toward annihilation than at any other point during recent history. This transpired when an American surveillance aircraft found the fact that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The next phase was almost 14 days filled with extreme stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger was clear. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a series of global atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes could have followed, casting mankind into all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined extensively, through volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new dimension into the story. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders that, for 13 days, controlled the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What was the American side considering?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people detest one another and oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that humans can be friends or can become total adversaries," remarks Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now a writer and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened while it edged towards armageddon. Even so, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would've sunk our naval vessels and destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly fine or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, though, that perspective was not shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend