‘After almost annihilating our world, our families have become allies’: the thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the world edged closer toward destruction more so than ever during recent history. This happened following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft identified that Soviet atomic missile bases were under construction on Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine around the island. What followed was almost a fortnight filled with extreme stress.

An Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a series of global nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes would have ensued, thrusting civilization into total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented extensively, in books, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb presents an unprecedented perspective into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men who, over 13 days, grasped the fate of humanity within their grasp.

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

For her, the unique appeal of the show is its endeavor to question: "Why do people detest each other and confront each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that people can be friends or else can become total adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What is striking regarding this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide could watch nearly in real time while it moved closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the risk of destruction came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would've obliterated the naval vessels and sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his missiles from Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of events.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend