‘After nearly annihilating our planet, our families are friends’: the gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet veered nearer to ruin than at any other point in the contemporary era. This occurred after a US surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Russian nuclear weapon sites were being built in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to impose a naval blockade encircling Cuba. What followed was nearly two weeks of unbearable anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained clear. Should Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a cascade involving global nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, thrusting humanity toward total oblivion.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel dimension into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the figures who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What were Washington planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can individuals detest one another to the point they confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that humans have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What is striking about this event was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens globally could watch nearly as it happened as it moved towards disaster. Even so, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than what most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted a military strike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days in October, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of events.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly wonderful or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed , well produced that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and the USSR would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate since we got along really well and we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since almost destroying the world, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend