‘After almost annihilating the planet, the families have become friends’: a gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet veered nearer to ruin than at any other point in the contemporary era. This occurred when an American reconnaissance aircraft identified that Soviet nuclear weapon sites 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 JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime blockade around the island. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days filled with impossible anxiety.

An Catastrophic Danger

The danger was clear. If President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide atomic attacks and counterstrikes would have ensued, plunging humanity toward all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, in books, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel perspective to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the figures who, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What was the American side thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "How can nations detest each other to the point they confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Disaster

What is remarkable regarding this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens around the world were able to observe almost in real time as it crept closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've destroyed our aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always wonderful or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that perspective would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades since almost destroying the world, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend