‘After nearly destroying our planet, our relatives are friends’: the thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world edged nearer to ruin more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred when an American reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were being built in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade around the island. What followed constituted almost a fortnight of unbearable tension.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade of global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, thrusting civilization toward total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, through volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a novel dimension to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders that, over two tense weeks, held the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What were Washington thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor of global relations.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can people hate one another to the point they oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that individuals can be friends or else have the potential to be complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What’s notable about this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens worldwide could watch almost in real time while it crept towards disaster. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have obliterated the naval vessels and destroyed America's primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always wonderful or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of progress.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp