Following almost annihilating our world, the relatives are friends’: a gripping audio series featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the world edged nearer toward ruin more so than ever in recent history. This occurred following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian nuclear weapon installations were under construction on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling Cuba. What followed constituted nearly a fortnight filled with extreme stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes would have ensued, plunging mankind toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been covered extensively, in books, movies, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel element into the story. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the figures who, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin thinking? What was the United States planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its attempt to question: "Why do people hate one another and oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Disaster

What’s notable regarding this event was that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals around the world could watch nearly in real time while it crept towards armageddon. Even so, the risk of destruction was more imminent than what most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've sunk the aircraft carriers and sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when everyone around them were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, and Nina learned about it through the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative narrative of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly wonderful or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we connected immediately and now we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years since almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn