‘After almost destroying the world, the relatives are allies’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the world edged nearer to annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This occurred after an American reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Russian nuclear missile installations were being assembled on Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. In response, President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade around the island. The next phase was nearly two weeks of unbearable anxiety.

The Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a series of worldwide nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have followed, casting mankind into all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented repeatedly, in volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented dimension to this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures that, over 13 days, grasped the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Russians considering? What was Washington considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "How can nations hate one another and oppose one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that humans have the potential to be allies or else can become total adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and now a writer and attorney. "We see this repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals around the world were able to observe almost in real time as it edged closer to disaster. However, the danger of destruction came closer than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk our naval vessels as well as destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative version of events.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, which was a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so even-handed and well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along immediately and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to learn