‘After nearly destroying our planet, the families have become allies’: the thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world edged closer to destruction than at any other point in recent history. This transpired after an American reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime blockade around the island. The next phase constituted almost 14 days of unbearable tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The peril remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction involving global atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes would have followed, plunging civilization into total destruction.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented dimension into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the figures who, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin considering? What were the United States considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do individuals detest one another to the point they confront one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that people can be allies or can become complete adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over when countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding this event was that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals globally could watch almost as it happened while it moved closer to disaster. Even so, the risk of destruction came closer than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would've sunk the naval vessels and sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by the sense of hope.

A Different Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most significant thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, after nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn