‘After almost annihilating our world, the relatives are friends’: the thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, humanity came nearer toward destruction than at any other point in modern times. This occurred after an American reconnaissance aircraft identified that Soviet nuclear weapon installations were under construction in Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. In response, President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted almost a fortnight filled with unbearable tension.

The Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained clear. Should Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a series of worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes could have followed, plunging humanity into all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented element into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders who, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world within their grasp.

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

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do nations hate one another and confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that people can be friends or can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over when nations have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals globally could watch nearly in real time while it edged closer to disaster. However, the danger of annihilation came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've destroyed our aircraft carriers and sunk our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative version of events.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that view would not be held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of hope.

"We aren't the first," notes Nina. "After 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Finally, after almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to grasp