‘After almost annihilating the world, the families have become friends’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the planet veered closer to destruction than at any other point during the contemporary era. This occurred after a US surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic weapon sites were being assembled on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted almost two weeks filled with impossible stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat was clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a series of worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes might have ensued, thrusting mankind toward total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, in volumes, films, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel dimension into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders who, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin thinking? What were Washington considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do nations detest each other and oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that people can be allies or else can become complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now a writer and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is striking regarding this event was that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time as it edged closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've obliterated the aircraft carriers and sunk our primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Perspective

Still, during those two weeks in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following these events, and Nina being taught about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are always wonderful or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR to appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 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 since we connected really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become friends, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to comprehend