‘After almost annihilating our world, our families are allies’: the thrilling audio series featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the world came nearer to annihilation than at any other point during recent history. This transpired after an American reconnaissance plane found that Russian atomic weapon bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine encircling the island. What followed constituted almost 14 days filled with unbearable tension.

An Catastrophic Danger

The peril was clear. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a cascade involving global nuclear attacks and counterstrikes could have ensued, thrusting civilization into all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented extensively, through volumes, films, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new element to the story. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the figures who, over 13 days, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What were the American side considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can nations detest each other and oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that humans can be friends or can become total adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to fight."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What is notable about this event was that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time as it crept towards disaster. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than what anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've sunk our aircraft carriers and destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles from Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about it through the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great occasion it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that view would not be held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and the USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we connected really well and now we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, following nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our families are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend