‘After almost destroying our world, the relatives are friends’: the gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, humanity came closer to annihilation than at any other point during the contemporary era. This occurred when an American surveillance plane discovered the fact that Russian nuclear weapon sites were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost a fortnight filled with unbearable tension.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger remained obvious. If Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a series of global atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, thrusting humanity into total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined repeatedly, through volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new dimension into the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures who, for two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What was Washington thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "How can nations detest one another and confront one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that individuals have the potential to be friends or else can become complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and now an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s striking regarding this event is that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals around the world were able to observe nearly in real time while it edged closer to catastrophe. However, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk our naval vessels and sunk America's largest and most important fleet. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, during those two weeks in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly fine or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "They told me what a great occasion it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

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

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is because we once again are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to learn