Following nearly annihilating the planet, the families are friends’: the gripping audio series from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, humanity edged nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during the contemporary era. This happened when an American surveillance plane discovered the fact that Russian atomic weapon bases were being built in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine around the island. What followed was almost two weeks of impossible stress.

An Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained clear. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series of global nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes would have followed, casting mankind toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been covered repeatedly, through books, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought an unprecedented dimension into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders who, for two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Russians thinking? What were the American side thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of international affairs.

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

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or else can become total adversaries," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and now a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch almost as it happened as it moved towards armageddon. However, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate when everyone around them were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which presented a slightly different version of events.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly wonderful or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that view was not shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and well produced that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most momentous thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we got along really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our families are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Current Perils

Or is it? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn