Following almost destroying our world, our families are allies’: a thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world veered nearer toward ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane identified that Soviet atomic weapon bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly 14 days of impossible tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat was obvious. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series of global atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging civilization toward all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered extensively, in volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented dimension into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders that, for 13 days, held the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What was the American side planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "Why do individuals detest each other and go against one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be allies or can become complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this over and over when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Brink of Disaster

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals around the world were able to observe almost in real time while it moved closer to catastrophe. However, the danger of annihilation came closer than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated our naval vessels and sunk America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate when many advisors around them were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Different Perspective

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about it through the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always wonderful and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most significant thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We aren't the first," smiles Nina. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is a shame because we connected really well and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of why this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend