Following almost annihilating the world, our families are friends’: the thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet edged closer toward destruction than at any other point in modern times. This transpired after an American surveillance plane discovered the fact that Russian atomic weapon installations were under construction in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a maritime blockade around the island. The next phase constituted nearly two weeks filled with extreme anxiety.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a cascade involving worldwide nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, plunging mankind toward total destruction.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in volumes, movies, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a completely new element into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures who, for 13 days, held the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Russians considering? What were the United States considering?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor of global relations.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its attempt to question: "How can people hate each other to the point they oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or else can become complete adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and now an author and attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is striking about this event is that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals globally could watch nearly in real time while it moved towards catastrophe. Even so, the danger of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have obliterated the naval vessels and sunk our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly wonderful and sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced , well produced that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most significant thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"We are not the first," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate because we connected immediately and we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after almost six decades since almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to grasp