Following almost destroying our planet, the relatives have become allies’: a gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, humanity came closer to annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This occurred when an American surveillance plane found the fact that Soviet atomic weapon sites were under construction in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period was nearly a fortnight filled with unbearable anxiety.

The Unthinkable Danger

The danger was obvious. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a series of worldwide atomic attacks and counterstrikes would have followed, plunging civilization into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel element to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men who, for 13 days, held the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What was the American side considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can people detest one another to the point they go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or can become total enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author and attorney. "We see this over and over when countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally could watch almost as it happened as it moved closer to armageddon. Even so, the threat of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed our aircraft carriers and destroyed our primary fleet. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American missiles from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, during those 13 days in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Nina learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different version of events.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful and positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great moment it was, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and USSR to appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the first," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected immediately and now we are friends, which is really great. Finally, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Perils

Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend