‘After nearly annihilating the planet, the relatives are allies’: the gripping audio series from JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the world veered closer to destruction more so than ever in the contemporary era. This transpired after an American reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Russian atomic weapon bases were being assembled on Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to establish a naval quarantine around the island. The next phase was almost a fortnight filled with unbearable stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger was obvious. Should Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a series involving worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging mankind toward total destruction.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new perspective into the story. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures who, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Russians planning? What was Washington considering?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do nations detest each other to the point they confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that people have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Disaster

What’s remarkable about this event is that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals around the world were able to observe almost in real time while it edged towards disaster. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have obliterated our naval vessels as well as sunk America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly fine or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of progress.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend