Following almost annihilating our world, the families are allies’: a gripping audio series from JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world veered nearer to ruin more so than ever in recent history. This happened after an American reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Russian nuclear weapon installations were being built in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The next phase constituted almost 14 days of extreme tension.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril was palpable. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a cascade of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, thrusting humanity toward all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in books, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a novel dimension to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the men that, over 13 days, held the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Russians thinking? What were the American side considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "How can people hate one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular it is that humans have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be total enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author and lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly involved to fight."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world could watch almost in real time as it crept closer to armageddon. However, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have destroyed the aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American missiles from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, and Nina learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided the war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 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."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families have become allies, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn