Following almost destroying our planet, the families are allies’: a gripping audio series featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the world came closer to destruction more so than ever during recent history. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft identified that Soviet atomic weapon bases were under construction on Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, President JFK directed a naval task force to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted almost two weeks of impossible stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The peril remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a series of worldwide nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes would have followed, plunging humanity toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, through books, movies, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new perspective into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures who, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Russians considering? What was the American side planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can people detest one another and confront each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that humans have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding this event was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals around the world could watch nearly as it happened while it crept towards armageddon. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've sunk the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate when everyone around them demanded military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different version of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly fine or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, though, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR to appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is because we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to learn