Following almost annihilating the world, our families have become friends’: a gripping audio series featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the planet came closer to annihilation than at any other point in recent history. This transpired when a US surveillance aircraft found that Russian atomic weapon bases were being assembled on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. In response, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly 14 days of impossible anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a series of global nuclear strikes and counterstrikes would have followed, casting humanity toward total oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented repeatedly, through books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented dimension into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures that, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What was the American side thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show is its endeavor to explore: "Why do nations detest one another and go against each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be friends or can become complete adversaries," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now a writer and attorney. "History shows this over and over when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What’s notable regarding this event is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide could watch nearly as it happened while it edged towards armageddon. Even so, the risk of destruction came closer than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have sunk the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of events.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state 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 toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend