Following almost destroying our planet, our relatives are allies’: the gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world edged nearer toward destruction more so than ever in modern times. This transpired when an American surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic weapon sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost 14 days of unbearable stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger was clear. If President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, casting mankind into all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented extensively, through books, films, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented element to the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men that, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What was Washington thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor of global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "Why do nations detest each other and oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or can become total adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently an author and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What’s notable about this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide could watch almost as it happened as it crept towards disaster. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have sunk our naval vessels and sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative narrative of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always fine and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of America and USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be 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 and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp