‘After almost destroying our world, the relatives have become friends’: the thrilling audio series from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the world came nearer toward ruin more so than ever in modern times. This occurred following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft found that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being assembled on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval quarantine around the island. The next phase was nearly two weeks of impossible anxiety.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained palpable. Should President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a cascade of worldwide nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes would have followed, thrusting humanity toward total oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, through volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders who, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin considering? What were the American side considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to question: "Why do people detest each other and go against one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or else can become total enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently an author and attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals globally could watch nearly in real time while it crept towards armageddon. However, the danger of destruction came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated our naval vessels as well as sunk our primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles from Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective 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 didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, though, that perspective was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced and expertly crafted that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most significant aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of hope.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we got along really well and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is because we now are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp