Following almost annihilating the world, the relatives are allies’: a gripping audio series from JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, humanity came nearer to ruin more so than ever in modern times. This transpired when a US reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Russian nuclear weapon installations were under construction on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. What followed constituted nearly 14 days of impossible stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The danger was palpable. If Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a cascade involving worldwide nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes would have followed, plunging civilization toward total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb presents an unprecedented element to this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders that, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Russians considering? What was the United States planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can nations hate each other and go against one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that people can be allies or else have the potential to be total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over when countries have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it crept towards armageddon. Even so, the danger of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have sunk our aircraft carriers as well as sunk our largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always wonderful or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that view would not be held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , well produced that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 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," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we got along immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years since almost destroying the world, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series seems so urgent is that we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn