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

During the month of October 1962, the planet came nearer toward annihilation than at any other point during the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Russian nuclear weapon installations were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade encircling the island. What followed was almost a fortnight filled with unbearable anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The danger was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes would have followed, casting civilization toward total ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented dimension into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men that, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What were the American side thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can people hate one another to the point they go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that individuals can be allies or can become complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to fight."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable about this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people around the world could watch almost as it happened while it moved towards disaster. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation came closer than most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk the naval vessels as well as destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Nina being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America 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 wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become friends, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Current Perils

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend