Following almost destroying the planet, our families have become allies’: a gripping audio series from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world edged nearer toward destruction more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft identified that Russian atomic weapon installations were being assembled in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, President JFK directed a naval task force to enact a naval blockade around Cuba. The ensuing period was almost 14 days filled with unbearable stress.

An Catastrophic Danger

The danger was clear. If President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series involving global atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, thrusting humanity toward total destruction.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, in volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new perspective to the story. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men that, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What was the United States considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do individuals hate each other and oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that people have the potential to be allies or can become total enemies," remarks Max 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 the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable regarding this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, people around the world could watch almost as it happened while it moved closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation came closer than most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed our aircraft carriers and destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American missiles from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different picture of events.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always wonderful or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced , expertly crafted that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we got along really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Finally, after almost six decades since almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Present Perils

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend