Following nearly annihilating our world, our families have become friends’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the world edged nearer to destruction than at any other point in modern times. This occurred following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft identified that Russian nuclear missile bases were being built on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to enact a naval blockade around the island. What followed was almost 14 days filled with unbearable anxiety.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger remained obvious. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have followed, casting mankind into all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, through volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new perspective to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the figures who, over 13 days, controlled the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What was Washington planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show is its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate one another and go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that people have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is remarkable about this event is that, since it transpired so publicly, citizens globally were able to observe almost as it happened while it moved towards catastrophe. However, the threat of annihilation came closer than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks in October, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine and sunny."

Inside 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. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and USSR would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "That is a shame since we connected immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Perils

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn