‘After almost destroying the world, the families have become allies’: a gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, humanity edged nearer to annihilation than at any other point in modern times. This occurred after an American reconnaissance aircraft found that Soviet atomic missile bases were being built on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to enact a naval blockade around Cuba. The next phase was almost two weeks of impossible tension.

The Unthinkable Danger

The peril was clear. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a series of worldwide nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, plunging humanity into total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, in volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel perspective into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders that, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Russians considering? What were the American side planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can people detest each other and confront each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be total adversaries," states Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What’s striking about this event was that, because it transpired so publicly, people globally were able to observe nearly as it happened as it edged towards disaster. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have obliterated our naval vessels and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them was pushing for military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of hope.

A Different Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks in October, the fear was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented an alternative narrative of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always fine or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it 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 outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed and well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, after almost six decades since almost destroying the world, our families are now allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp