Following almost annihilating the world, the relatives are allies’: the thrilling audio series from JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world edged nearer to ruin more so than ever in modern times. This happened when an American surveillance aircraft identified that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were being built on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period was almost 14 days of extreme anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat remained clear. If President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade involving global atomic strikes and counterstrikes would have ensued, plunging civilization toward all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, through volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel element into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the figures that, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What was Washington thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do nations detest one another and oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or else can become complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What is remarkable regarding this event was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide could watch almost as it happened as it edged closer to disaster. Even so, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than most people realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've deployed a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've destroyed our aircraft carriers and sunk our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided the war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, though, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most significant aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After 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 because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after almost six decades of almost destroying the world, our families are now allies, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp