Following almost annihilating the planet, the families are allies’: a thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity veered nearer toward annihilation than at any other point in modern times. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being assembled on Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, President JFK directed a naval task force to enact a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days of impossible stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained clear. If President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a cascade involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes would have ensued, plunging humanity toward all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a novel element to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders that, for two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What were the United States thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do people detest one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that people can be allies or have the potential to be total adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now a writer and attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded so publicly, people around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened while it moved closer to catastrophe. Even so, the risk of destruction came closer than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Later on, however, that perspective was not held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced , well produced that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years since almost destroying the world, our lineages are now allies, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to comprehend