Following almost annihilating the planet, our relatives have become allies’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, humanity came closer to ruin than at any other point in modern times. This occurred after an American surveillance plane found the fact that Russian nuclear missile installations were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade around the island. The next phase was nearly two weeks filled with unbearable anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained clear. Should Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a cascade of worldwide nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have followed, plunging mankind into total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented extensively, in books, movies, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented dimension into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men who, for 13 days, held the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What was Washington thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the show is its attempt to explore: "Why do individuals hate one another to the point they confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that individuals can be allies or have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now an author as well as attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to fight."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about this event was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals around the world could watch nearly in real time as it moved closer to armageddon. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've obliterated the naval vessels as well as destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades since almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to grasp