Following almost annihilating the planet, our relatives have become allies’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet veered closer to annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This transpired when a US reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Russian atomic missile installations were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted almost a fortnight of extreme tension.

The Catastrophic Threat

The peril was palpable. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a cascade involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, thrusting mankind toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, through volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new perspective into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders that, for two tense weeks, controlled the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What were the American side thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "How can people detest each other and go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding this event was that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened as it edged towards disaster. However, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We are not the first," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we got along really well and now we’re friends, something that is really great. Finally, following nearly six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp