Following almost annihilating the planet, the relatives are friends’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet edged nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that an American surveillance plane identified that Soviet nuclear missile bases were under construction in Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to enact a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted nearly 14 days of impossible stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes could have followed, casting mankind toward all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, in books, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a completely new perspective to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the men who, for two tense weeks, held the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Russians considering? What were the United States thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in global relations.

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

"It struck me how spectacular it is that individuals can be friends or else have the potential to be total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now an author and attorney. "History shows this over and over when nations have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to fight."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What is notable regarding this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people around the world could watch almost as it happened as it crept towards disaster. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk our aircraft carriers and sunk America's primary naval force. In turn, we would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different picture of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame because we got along really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Perils

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend