Following almost annihilating our planet, our relatives are friends’: the thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, humanity came nearer toward annihilation than at any other point during the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Russian nuclear missile installations were being built in Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine around the island. The next phase constituted nearly 14 days filled with unbearable anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes would have ensued, plunging mankind toward all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, in books, movies, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a novel perspective to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the figures that, for two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Russians planning? What were the United States planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "How can individuals hate each other and oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that humans have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this over and over when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded so publicly, people around the world were able to observe almost in real time as it moved closer to armageddon. However, the threat of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk the naval vessels as well as destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed , well produced that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union 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 hope.

"We aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, after nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we now are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend