‘After almost destroying the world, the relatives have become friends’: a gripping audio series from JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the planet edged closer toward destruction more so than ever during the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost 14 days filled with unbearable tension.

An Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained obvious. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a series involving worldwide atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes would have followed, casting mankind toward total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered extensively, in books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new perspective into the story. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders that, for 13 days, controlled the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What was Washington considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show is its attempt to explore: "Why do people hate one another to the point they go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that humans have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be total enemies," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over when nations have gone to war, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s notable regarding this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened as it crept closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them demanded military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which portrayed an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly wonderful or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, though, that view would not be held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed , well produced that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of America and the USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we got along really well and we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn