Following almost destroying the world, our relatives have become friends’: a thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world edged closer to annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This happened when an American surveillance aircraft found the fact that Soviet nuclear missile sites were under construction in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted almost a fortnight of unbearable tension.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a cascade involving worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes might have followed, thrusting civilization into total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, through books, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new dimension to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men who, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What were Washington planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "Why do people hate one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch almost as it happened while it crept towards armageddon. However, the danger of destruction came closer than what anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've sunk the aircraft carriers and sunk America's primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed 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 were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. But, really, the most significant aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

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

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we got along really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Finally, after nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why 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 grasp