Following almost destroying the world, our families have become friends’: the thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity came closer toward annihilation more so than ever during recent history. This transpired after a US surveillance plane identified the fact that Russian atomic weapon bases were being assembled on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period was almost a fortnight of unbearable tension.

The Catastrophic Threat

The threat remained obvious. If Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade of worldwide atomic strikes and counterstrikes might have followed, plunging humanity into total ruination.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, through books, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a novel dimension to the story. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men who, over 13 days, held the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What was the American side considering?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate each other to the point they go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that people can be allies or have the potential to be total adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What is remarkable regarding this event was that, since it transpired so publicly, people worldwide could watch nearly in real time as it crept closer to disaster. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have destroyed the aircraft carriers as well as sunk our largest and most important fleet. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Later on, however, that interpretation was not held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of America and USSR to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we connected immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly six decades since almost destroying the world, our families are now allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp