Following almost destroying our planet, the relatives have become friends’: the gripping audio series from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet veered nearer toward ruin than at any other point in recent history. This occurred following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft identified that Russian atomic weapon installations were being built in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly two weeks of impossible tension.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger was obvious. If President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a cascade of global nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, thrusting humanity toward total oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented endlessly, through volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a novel element into the story. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men that, for 13 days, held the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What were Washington planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to question: "How can individuals detest one another to the point they go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular it is that individuals can be friends or else can become complete enemies," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and currently a writer and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s notable about this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people globally were able to observe almost as it happened as it edged closer to armageddon. However, the danger of destruction came closer than what most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have obliterated the naval vessels as well as destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which portrayed an alternative narrative of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "But 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 everything was constantly fine or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of progress.

"We aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is a shame because we got along immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years since almost destroying the world, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn