Following nearly destroying the world, the relatives are friends’: a thrilling audio series featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world came nearer to annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred after an American surveillance aircraft identified that Russian nuclear weapon installations were being built in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine encircling the island. The next phase was nearly two weeks of extreme anxiety.

An Unthinkable Danger

The peril was clear. Should Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series involving worldwide atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging humanity toward all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined extensively, in books, movies, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb presents a novel perspective to the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the figures that, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Russians considering? What were Washington considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "How can people detest one another to the point they oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that people can be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently a writer and lawyer. "We see this over and over when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to fight."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is remarkable about this event is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch nearly in real time while it edged towards armageddon. However, the threat of destruction came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would've sunk the aircraft carriers and sunk America's largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly wonderful and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that perspective was not shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced , well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and the USSR would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 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 were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades since almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp