‘After nearly destroying the planet, the relatives are friends’: a thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the world veered nearer toward annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred when a US reconnaissance plane found the fact that Russian nuclear weapon sites were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. In response, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade around the island. The next phase was almost 14 days of unbearable stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a chain reaction involving global nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, plunging mankind into total destruction.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, through volumes, movies, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented perspective into the story. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men who, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Russians thinking? What was the American side considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show is its endeavor to explore: "How can individuals hate one another and go against one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable the fact that people have the potential to be friends or can become complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over when nations have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What is notable regarding this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide could watch almost as it happened as it edged closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've destroyed the naval vessels as well as destroyed our largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American missiles from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced , well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most significant thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Finally, after almost six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to learn