Following almost annihilating our world, our relatives are friends’: the gripping audio series from JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the planet veered nearer toward ruin more so than ever during recent history. This occurred following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Soviet atomic missile bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine around the island. The next phase constituted almost 14 days of extreme anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained obvious. If Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, plunging civilization into total oblivion.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, in volumes, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new element to the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men that, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What were the American side thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its endeavor to explore: "Why do individuals hate one another to the point they go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that humans have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now a writer and attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to fight."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is striking regarding this event is that, since it transpired so publicly, people around the world were able to observe almost as it happened while it crept closer to catastrophe. Even so, the danger of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed our naval vessels and sunk our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them were advocating action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in 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 the sense of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative picture of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly fine or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that view would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and well produced that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp