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

In October 1962, the world came nearer to annihilation than at any other point during recent history. This happened following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft found that Russian nuclear missile sites were being built on Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted almost a fortnight of impossible anxiety.

An Catastrophic Danger

The threat was clear. Should President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a series of global atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes would have followed, casting civilization into all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, through volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a novel element to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures who, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What were the United States planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do people hate one another to the point they go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that humans can be allies or have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over when countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people globally were able to observe nearly in real time as it crept towards disaster. However, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Different Perspective

Still, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always wonderful and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Later on, however, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of progress.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is a shame because we got along really well and we’re friends, something that is really great. Finally, after almost six decades since almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend