Following nearly annihilating our planet, our families have become friends’: the gripping audio series featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world veered nearer to annihilation more so than ever during the contemporary era. This transpired after an American surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Russian atomic weapon bases were under construction in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. What followed constituted almost 14 days filled with impossible stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The danger was clear. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes might have followed, plunging civilization toward all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb presents a novel dimension to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders who, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Russians planning? What was the United States considering?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "How can nations hate each other to the point they go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that humans have the potential to be friends or else can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over when nations have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Disaster

What is remarkable regarding this event is that, since it transpired so publicly, citizens around the world were able to observe almost in real time as it edged closer to catastrophe. Even so, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated the naval vessels as well as destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative narrative of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always fine and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Later on, however, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most momentous thing is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of America and USSR to appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of progress.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we got along immediately and we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn