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

In October 1962, humanity veered closer to annihilation than at any other point during modern times. This happened after an American surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic missile sites were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around Cuba. The next phase was almost two weeks filled with unbearable anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, thrusting humanity into all-out ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered extensively, in volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb presents a novel element to the story. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the men that, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Russians planning? What was the American side considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do people hate each other and confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that people can be allies or have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals around the world were able to observe nearly in real time as it crept towards disaster. Even so, the danger of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have destroyed the naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Different Perspective

Still, during those two weeks in October, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly wonderful or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided the war, which was a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that interpretation was not held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families have become allies, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Current Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp