Following almost annihilating the planet, our families have become friends’: a thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the world edged closer to annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This happened following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Russian nuclear weapon sites were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade around the island. What followed constituted almost a fortnight filled with extreme anxiety.

An Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained obvious. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a series involving worldwide atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes could have followed, plunging humanity into total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, through books, films, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new element to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the men who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Russians planning? What were the United States planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "Why do nations hate one another to the point they go against one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that people have the potential to be friends or can become complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now an author and lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable about this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide could watch nearly in real time as it crept towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation came closer than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've destroyed our naval vessels and destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative narrative of events.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided the war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. Later on, though, that perspective was not held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we got along really well and we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families are now friends, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp