Following almost destroying the world, our families have become friends’: a gripping audio series featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet veered nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during recent history. This transpired after a US surveillance plane identified that Russian atomic missile sites were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine encircling the island. What followed was nearly 14 days filled with impossible tension.

An Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic strikes and counterstrikes might have followed, casting civilization into total oblivion.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, in volumes, films, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the men that, over 13 days, held the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What was the American side thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "Why do individuals hate each other to the point they confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is striking regarding this event is that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens globally were able to observe nearly in real time as it edged closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would have fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would have sunk our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them were advocating action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, though, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Current Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp