Following nearly destroying the planet, the families have become friends’: a gripping audio series from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the world edged closer to annihilation more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred after a US reconnaissance plane found that Soviet atomic weapon installations were under construction on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime blockade encircling the island. The next phase was nearly a fortnight of impossible anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The peril was palpable. Should Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide atomic attacks and counterstrikes would have followed, thrusting civilization into all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, through volumes, movies, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new dimension into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures that, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Russians thinking? What was the American side planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "How can nations hate each other and oppose one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that humans can be friends or can become complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to fight."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally could watch nearly in real time as it edged towards armageddon. Even so, the danger of destruction came closer than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed our aircraft carriers and sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about it via the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly fine and positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. In the years to come, though, that view 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 the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from historians. But, really, the most significant aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and USSR to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we got along immediately and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become allies, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Perils

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend