Following almost annihilating our world, our families have become friends’: a thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world came nearer to ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane found the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine around Cuba. What followed was nearly 14 days of extreme anxiety.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger was clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a series involving worldwide nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, plunging civilization into all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been covered extensively, through volumes, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented perspective to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures that, for two tense weeks, held the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Russians planning? What were the United States planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can individuals detest each other to the point they confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that individuals can be friends or else can become complete enemies," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this over and over when countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded so publicly, people globally were able to observe almost in real time as it edged towards armageddon. Even so, the danger of destruction came closer than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers and sunk our primary naval force. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly wonderful or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that view would not be held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant thing is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "Following 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. Finally, after almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series seems so urgent is because we now are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend