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

In the month of October 1962, humanity edged closer to annihilation more so than ever during the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft found the fact that Soviet atomic missile installations were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine around the island. What followed constituted nearly two weeks of unbearable tension.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a series involving worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging humanity toward total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, in books, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new element into the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders that, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Russians considering? What were the United States thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic of global relations.

In her view, the strength of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do nations hate one another and oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that humans have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable regarding this event was that, since it transpired so publicly, citizens around the world could watch nearly as it happened while it moved towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated our naval vessels as well as destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always fine or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We aren't the first," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame since we got along really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend