Following almost annihilating our planet, our families have become allies’: a gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, humanity edged closer toward annihilation more so than ever during recent history. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance plane identified the fact that Soviet atomic weapon installations were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the US mainland. In response, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The next phase was almost 14 days filled with impossible tension.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat was obvious. Should Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction of global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes might have followed, plunging mankind into all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been covered repeatedly, through volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new dimension into the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders that, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What were Washington planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations.

In her view, the strength of the show is its endeavor to question: "Why do individuals hate each other to the point they oppose each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable the fact that people have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be total enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author as well as attorney. "We see this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly it is to fight."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable about this event was that, since it transpired so publicly, people around the world were able to observe almost in real time while it edged towards armageddon. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would have destroyed our aircraft carriers and destroyed our primary fleet. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy when everyone around them was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following these events, with Nina learned about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative picture of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are always fine and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, however, that interpretation was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, really, the most momentous thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 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."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades since almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to learn