Following almost destroying our planet, our families are friends’: a gripping audio series from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the world veered closer toward ruin more so than ever in modern times. This occurred when a US surveillance plane discovered that Russian nuclear missile sites were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period constituted almost two weeks filled with extreme tension.

An Catastrophic Danger

The threat was clear. If Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a cascade involving worldwide atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, thrusting humanity toward all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been covered repeatedly, through volumes, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb presents a novel dimension into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders who, for two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What was Washington planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its endeavor to explore: "Why do nations detest each other and confront one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that humans have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide could watch nearly as it happened while it moved closer to catastrophe. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have responded through massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following the crisis, and Nina learned about it via the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different picture of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are always wonderful and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR would 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.

"We are not the first," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we connected immediately and now we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend