‘After nearly annihilating the planet, our families are allies’: the thrilling audio series from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world veered closer toward destruction more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that an American surveillance plane identified the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon installations were being built on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to enact a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly a fortnight filled with extreme stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The threat remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, casting civilization into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, through books, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented dimension to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men that, over two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What were Washington planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "How can individuals hate one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable the fact that people can be friends or else can become total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

The Precipice of Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide could watch almost as it happened as it edged closer to disaster. However, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've destroyed our aircraft carriers and sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of America and the USSR would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families are now allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series feels so necessary is because we now are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp