Following nearly destroying the planet, our families are friends’: the thrilling audio series featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world veered nearer to ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This transpired after an American reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Russian nuclear weapon sites were being assembled in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine around the island. What followed was nearly two weeks of impossible tension.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat was clear. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a series of worldwide nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes would have followed, plunging humanity toward all-out oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, through volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a completely new element to the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders that, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Russians thinking? What were the American side planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do people detest one another to the point they oppose each other?"

"It struck me how profound it is that humans have the potential to be friends or else can become total enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now a writer and attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable about this event is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals globally could watch nearly as it happened as it moved towards armageddon. Even so, the danger of annihilation came closer than most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've deployed a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk our naval vessels as well as destroyed our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when everyone around them were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always fine or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided the war, which was a positive thing," she continues. Later on, though, that perspective was not held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

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

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we got along really well and we are friends, which is really great. Finally, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to learn