‘After almost annihilating our planet, the families are allies’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, humanity veered nearer toward destruction more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Russian nuclear weapon installations were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade around the island. The next phase constituted nearly two weeks filled with extreme anxiety.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat was clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a cascade of global nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, thrusting civilization toward total oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, through books, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new dimension into the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures who, for 13 days, controlled the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What was the American side considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the show is its endeavor to question: "How can people detest one another to the point they confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that individuals can be friends or have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time while it moved towards disaster. Even so, the danger of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as sunk our primary fleet. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of progress.

"We are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame because we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years since almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to learn