Following nearly destroying our planet, our families have become allies’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the world veered closer toward ruin more so than ever in recent history. This happened following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK ordered a naval task force to enact a naval blockade around the island. The next phase was nearly 14 days filled with impossible anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril was clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a series of global atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes would have ensued, thrusting civilization toward total oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, in books, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the men that, for 13 days, controlled the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What were Washington planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the show is its endeavor to question: "How can people hate each other and oppose each other?"

"It struck me how profound it is that people have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and now a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this over and over when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to fight."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is notable regarding this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide were able to observe almost as it happened while it edged closer to armageddon. Even so, the threat of destruction was more imminent than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have obliterated the naval vessels and sunk America's primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always fine and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of America and USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series feels so necessary is because we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend