Following almost destroying the planet, our relatives are allies’: a thrilling audio series from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the planet edged nearer toward annihilation than at any other point in the contemporary era. This occurred after a US surveillance plane discovered that Russian atomic missile installations were being built in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling Cuba. What followed was almost two weeks filled with unbearable stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained clear. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade involving worldwide nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes might have followed, thrusting humanity into all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been covered extensively, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new dimension into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders who, for 13 days, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What was the American side considering?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "Why do people hate one another to the point they confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that individuals have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently a writer as well as attorney. "We see this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to fight."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals around the world could watch almost as it happened as it crept towards disaster. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk the naval vessels and destroyed our largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always fine or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend