‘After almost destroying the planet, our relatives are friends’: the thrilling audio series featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the world veered nearer to annihilation more so than ever during recent history. This happened when an American surveillance aircraft found that Russian nuclear missile bases were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost 14 days of extreme tension.

The Catastrophic Threat

The peril remained clear. If Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a series of global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, casting civilization into all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered extensively, through books, movies, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new dimension to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the men that, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What was the United States considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "How can nations detest one another to the point they go against one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that humans can be friends or else have the potential to be complete enemies," states Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over when nations have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired so publicly, people worldwide could watch nearly as it happened as it moved towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have sunk our aircraft carriers and sunk our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate when everyone around them demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

A Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly fine and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that perspective was not shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp