Following nearly annihilating our planet, the relatives have become friends’: the gripping podcast from JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, humanity came closer toward destruction more so than ever in modern times. This occurred when a US reconnaissance plane identified that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period was almost a fortnight of unbearable tension.

An Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained palpable. If Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, casting mankind toward total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered extensively, through volumes, films, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new dimension to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men who, for 13 days, held the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What was the United States planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can individuals hate each other and confront each other?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that individuals can be allies or else have the potential to be total enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Precipice of Disaster

What is remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch almost as it happened while it edged towards disaster. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've destroyed the aircraft carriers as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are always wonderful and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, due to the participation of historians. But, really, the most significant aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state 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 with each other, has to be a symbol of progress.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we connected immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend