‘After almost destroying our world, our relatives have become friends’: a gripping audio series featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet veered nearer toward destruction more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred after an American surveillance aircraft found that Russian nuclear weapon installations were being built in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. What followed constituted almost a fortnight of extreme anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The peril was palpable. Should Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a cascade of worldwide atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes could have followed, casting civilization into total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented repeatedly, through volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new perspective to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders that, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Russians considering? What were the United States considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "Why do nations hate each other to the point they go against one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and now an author and attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to fight."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding this event was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals around the world were able to observe almost as it happened while it crept closer to armageddon. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would've sunk our naval vessels and sunk our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days in October, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and the USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Nina. "After 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend