Following nearly destroying the world, our relatives are allies’: a gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity came nearer to destruction than at any other point during the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet atomic missile sites were being built in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The next phase was nearly two weeks of extreme anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a cascade of global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging civilization into all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb presents a novel perspective to the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men who, over two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Russians thinking? What was the United States considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do nations detest one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be total enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author as well as attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly it is to fight."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals around the world were able to observe nearly in real time as it edged towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would've destroyed the naval vessels as well as destroyed America's primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Nina learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, however, that interpretation was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most significant thing is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union to 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 sign of progress.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we connected really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp