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

In the month of October 1962, the world veered closer to destruction than at any other point during the contemporary era. This occurred after an American surveillance plane discovered that Russian atomic missile installations were under construction in Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK ordered a naval task force to enact a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. What followed constituted almost 14 days filled with unbearable tension.

An Unthinkable Danger

The peril was clear. Should President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a series of worldwide nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes might have followed, thrusting humanity into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, through volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new element into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders who, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What were the American side considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "How can nations hate each other and oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that people have the potential to be friends or else can become complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently an author and attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to fight."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What’s striking regarding this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens globally could watch nearly in real time as it crept towards disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction 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 Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have sunk our aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated through 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 and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American missiles from Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative narrative 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 regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly wonderful or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we got along really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend