Following nearly destroying the planet, the relatives are allies’: the gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the planet veered closer toward ruin more so than ever during the contemporary era. This transpired when a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. In response, President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime blockade encircling the island. The next phase was almost two weeks of impossible stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a series involving worldwide nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes could have followed, thrusting humanity into all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been covered repeatedly, in volumes, films, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented dimension into the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures who, over 13 days, held the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Russians considering? What were Washington considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its attempt to question: "Why do individuals detest one another and go against one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable the fact that people can be friends or have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Disaster

What is remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens around the world could watch nearly in real time as it crept towards disaster. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have obliterated our aircraft carriers and sunk our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following these events, and Nina learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always wonderful and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, partly, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and USSR would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to learn