Following almost annihilating our world, the families have become allies’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, humanity veered closer to ruin than at any other point in modern times. This transpired when a US surveillance aircraft discovered that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being assembled on Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase was almost a fortnight of impossible tension.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade of worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes could have followed, casting humanity into total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined extensively, in volumes, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new perspective into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the men who, for 13 days, held the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What was Washington thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show lies in its endeavor to question: "How can nations detest one another to the point they go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that individuals can be friends or can become complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over when countries enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to fight."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable regarding this event is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people globally were able to observe nearly as it happened while it edged closer to catastrophe. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have obliterated our naval vessels and sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly fine and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that perspective was not held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced , well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of hope.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along immediately and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our families are now friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is because we once again are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp