Following nearly annihilating our planet, the families are allies’: a gripping audio series from JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world edged nearer toward ruin than at any other point in modern times. This transpired when an American surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet atomic missile bases were being assembled in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around the island. The ensuing period constituted almost 14 days of impossible tension.

An Unthinkable Threat

The danger was obvious. If President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade involving global atomic attacks and counterstrikes could have ensued, plunging humanity into total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, in books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a novel dimension into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the figures who, for two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What were the United States considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "Why do nations hate each other and go against one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that humans can be friends or can become complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about this event was that, since it transpired so publicly, people worldwide were able to observe almost as it happened while it edged towards disaster. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would've destroyed the naval vessels as well as destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina learned about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative narrative of events.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that view was not held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we connected really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our families are now friends, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to grasp