Following nearly annihilating the planet, our relatives are allies’: a thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, humanity veered closer to annihilation than at any other point during modern times. This transpired when an American surveillance plane found the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly 14 days filled with unbearable anxiety.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger was clear. If President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade of worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes would have followed, plunging civilization toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, through volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new perspective into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders who, for 13 days, controlled the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What was Washington planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic of global relations.

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

"It struck me how spectacular it is that individuals can be allies or can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when countries have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Brink of Disaster

What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide could watch almost in real time as it crept towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of destruction was more imminent than what most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would've sunk our aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along immediately and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages are now friends, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp