‘After almost destroying our planet, the families are friends’: a thrilling audio series from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, humanity came nearer to ruin more so than ever in modern times. This happened after a US reconnaissance plane found that Russian atomic weapon bases were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine around the island. What followed constituted nearly 14 days filled with unbearable anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger was palpable. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade of global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, thrusting civilization toward total destruction.

The October crisis has been covered repeatedly, in books, movies, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the men that, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What was the United States considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do individuals detest one another to the point they confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to fight."

The Precipice of Disaster

What’s notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens globally were able to observe nearly in real time while it edged towards armageddon. However, the risk of destruction came closer than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when everyone around them was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Nina learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, though, that interpretation was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most significant thing is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate since we got along immediately and now we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Present Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp