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

During October 1962, humanity edged nearer toward destruction more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred after a US surveillance aircraft discovered that Russian nuclear missile bases were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase was almost two weeks of extreme stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a series involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, thrusting mankind toward all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel element to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders who, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What was the United States planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its endeavor to question: "How can people hate one another to the point they go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Disaster

What’s striking about this event was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened as it edged closer to armageddon. Even so, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would've obliterated our naval vessels and destroyed our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always wonderful and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Later on, though, that view would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Nina. "After 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Perils

Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is that we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp