Following nearly destroying our world, our families have become allies’: the gripping audio series from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the world veered nearer to annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred when an American surveillance aircraft found the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were being assembled on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine around the island. What followed constituted nearly two weeks filled with impossible stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The threat was clear. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a chain reaction of global nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, thrusting humanity into total ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined repeatedly, in volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel element to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders that, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What was the American side thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "How can nations detest each other to the point they go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that individuals can be friends or else can become complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide could watch nearly in real time as it crept closer to catastrophe. However, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would've sunk our naval vessels as well as sunk America's primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments demanded action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative picture of events.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly wonderful and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that interpretation was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of hope.

"We aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to comprehend