Following almost annihilating our planet, the families are allies’: a thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet came closer toward annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened when a US surveillance aircraft discovered that Soviet atomic missile installations were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. In response, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period was nearly a fortnight filled with impossible anxiety.

An Catastrophic Danger

The peril remained palpable. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, thrusting mankind into all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, in books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new perspective into the story. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders that, over 13 days, held the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What was the United States planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the strength of the show is its attempt to explore: "Why do people hate one another and confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that humans can be friends or can become total enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is striking about this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people around the world could watch almost as it happened as it moved closer to armageddon. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've sunk our naval vessels and sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva learned about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware 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 wonderful or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "They told me what a great occasion it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame since we connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since almost destroying the world, our families are now allies, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp