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

During October 1962, humanity came closer toward destruction more so than ever in the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance plane discovered that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were being assembled on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine around the island. The next phase constituted almost two weeks filled with extreme tension.

An Unthinkable Threat

The danger was palpable. Should Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a cascade involving worldwide atomic strikes and counterstrikes might have ensued, thrusting humanity toward all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered extensively, in volumes, films, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a novel perspective to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men who, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Russians planning? What was Washington planning?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can individuals hate one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that individuals can be allies or else can become complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer and attorney. "History shows this over and over when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to fight."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is notable regarding this event was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens around the world could watch nearly in real time as it edged closer to catastrophe. Even so, the risk of destruction came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as sunk our largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, during those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, which was a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that interpretation was not held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is because we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to comprehend