Following almost destroying our planet, the relatives are friends’: a gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, humanity edged nearer toward ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred when an American surveillance aircraft found that Soviet nuclear missile installations were being built in Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine around the island. The next phase constituted nearly 14 days of impossible tension.

An Catastrophic Danger

The danger was palpable. If Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a cascade involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, thrusting mankind into total destruction.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a novel dimension into the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men who, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What was Washington planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "How can nations hate each other and oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that individuals can be friends or else have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable about this event is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people globally were able to observe almost in real time while it edged closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Nina learned about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative version of events.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , well produced that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is because we once again are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend