‘After almost destroying the world, our relatives are allies’: the gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet came nearer to annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance plane discovered that Russian nuclear missile installations were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to enact a naval blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted nearly 14 days filled with impossible stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The danger was palpable. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade involving global nuclear strikes and counterstrikes might have followed, thrusting humanity into all-out ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, in books, films, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented element to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men who, over 13 days, held the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Russians thinking? What was Washington thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

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

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or else can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to fight."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally were able to observe almost in real time as it crept towards disaster. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's primary naval force. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented an alternative picture of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly fine or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Later on, though, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact 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 Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is a shame because we got along really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp