Following almost annihilating our world, our relatives are friends’: the thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, humanity came nearer to ruin more so than ever during the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance plane identified that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval blockade around the island. The next phase constituted nearly two weeks filled with extreme tension.

An Catastrophic Danger

The threat was clear. If Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, plunging mankind into all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel element to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures that, for 13 days, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands.

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

For her, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do people hate one another to the point they confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that people have the potential to be friends or else can become complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Brink of Disaster

What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired so publicly, people around the world could watch nearly as it happened while it edged closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the risk of destruction came closer than what most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would have fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would have destroyed the naval vessels and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of hope.

A Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly fine or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a positive thing," she continues. Later on, however, that perspective was not shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union 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 sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate because we connected immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Perils

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to learn