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

In October 1962, humanity came closer toward destruction than at any other point in recent history. This happened after a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear missile installations were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a naval blockade around the island. The next phase constituted nearly two weeks filled with unbearable stress.

An Catastrophic Danger

The peril was obvious. If President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a series of worldwide nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging mankind into all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, in volumes, movies, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel element to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men that, over 13 days, held the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What were the United States considering?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can nations detest each other and confront each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that humans can be allies or have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently a writer and lawyer. "We see this over and over when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is striking about this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens around the world were able to observe almost in real time while it edged closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would've destroyed our naval vessels as well as destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always wonderful or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "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 positive thing," she adds. Subsequently, though, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

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

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to learn