Following almost annihilating the world, our families are allies’: the thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, humanity veered closer toward destruction more so than ever during modern times. This occurred following the discovery that an American surveillance plane found the fact that Russian nuclear missile installations were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. The next phase constituted nearly two weeks filled with impossible anxiety.

The Catastrophic Threat

The threat remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes would have followed, thrusting mankind toward total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, through volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new element to the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the figures that, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin thinking? What was the American side planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its attempt to question: "Why do people hate one another and go against one another?"

"It struck me how profound it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens around the world could watch nearly as it happened while it moved closer to disaster. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've obliterated the aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary naval force. And, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Different Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly wonderful or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view would not be held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and well produced that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and 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 progress.

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

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we connected really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend