‘After almost destroying the world, our families are allies’: a gripping audio series from JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the world edged nearer to destruction more so than ever during recent history. This happened after a US surveillance aircraft found that Russian atomic missile sites were being built in Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a naval quarantine around Cuba. What followed constituted almost two weeks of unbearable stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The threat was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, plunging mankind toward all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered extensively, in volumes, films, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented dimension into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men who, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What was the United States thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the show is its attempt to question: "How can individuals detest one another and go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that individuals can be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and now a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is striking about this event was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide could watch nearly in real time as it edged closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of destruction came closer than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as sunk our largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to keep their heads while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative picture of events.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly fine and sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view was not held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , well produced that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and the USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Finally, following almost 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become friends, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to grasp