Following almost annihilating the world, the families have become friends’: a thrilling audio series from JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, humanity edged nearer toward ruin than at any other point during the contemporary era. This occurred after an American reconnaissance plane discovered that Soviet atomic weapon installations were being built on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase was almost 14 days filled with impossible stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger was palpable. If Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a series of worldwide atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, casting mankind toward all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented repeatedly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented perspective into the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders that, for two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What was Washington thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can people hate each other to the point they oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that people have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now an author as well as attorney. "We see this over and over when nations have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to fight."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens around the world could watch nearly as it happened as it moved towards disaster. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've destroyed our naval vessels and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are always wonderful and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most significant aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since almost destroying the world, our families have become allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now are living in 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