‘After almost annihilating our planet, the relatives are friends’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet edged closer toward ruin more so than ever in modern times. This transpired following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian nuclear missile sites were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine encircling the island. What followed constituted nearly two weeks filled with extreme tension.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger was palpable. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a series involving worldwide atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, casting humanity into total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered extensively, in volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented element into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders that, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What was the American side planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do people detest one another to the point they go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or can become complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals worldwide could watch nearly in real time while it moved closer to catastrophe. Even so, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk America's primary naval force. In turn, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following these events, with Nina learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always fine and positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view was not held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most momentous thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp