Following almost annihilating the planet, the relatives are friends’: the thrilling audio series from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the planet came closer toward destruction than at any other point during recent history. This transpired following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were under construction on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The next phase was nearly two weeks filled with extreme stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The danger remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a series of worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes could have followed, thrusting humanity into all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, in books, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new perspective into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders who, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What was the United States planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the show is its endeavor to explore: "How can people detest each other and oppose one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total adversaries," states Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Disaster

What’s notable about this event was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide were able to observe almost in real time as it edged closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've obliterated the naval vessels as well as sunk our primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, during those 13 days in October, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative narrative of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly wonderful and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant thing is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"We are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn