Following almost annihilating our world, the families are allies’: a gripping audio series featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the world edged nearer to annihilation than at any other point during the contemporary era. This occurred after a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian nuclear weapon sites were under construction in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to enact a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted nearly two weeks filled with extreme tension.

The Unthinkable Threat

The danger was clear. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction of global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, plunging mankind into total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, in books, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the figures who, for two tense weeks, controlled the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Russians considering? What was the United States considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "Why do nations detest one another and oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that humans can be friends or can become total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals globally were able to observe almost in real time as it edged towards armageddon. Even so, the risk of destruction came closer than what most people realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our largest and most important fleet. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and the USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "That is a shame because we got along really well and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp