Following almost destroying our world, our families are allies’: a gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the planet edged closer toward destruction more so than ever during modern times. This occurred when a US reconnaissance aircraft found that Russian atomic weapon sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. The next phase was almost a fortnight filled with extreme anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade involving worldwide nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, casting civilization into all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented extensively, through volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a completely new element into the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders that, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What were the United States planning?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "How can individuals hate one another and oppose one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that humans have the potential to be allies or else can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and now an author and lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What’s striking about this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals globally were able to observe nearly as it happened while it crept closer to disaster. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would've destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are always fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, in part, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union to appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We are not the first," notes Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of why this series feels so necessary is that we now are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend