Following almost destroying our planet, the relatives are allies’: a thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet edged closer toward destruction more so than ever in the contemporary era. This transpired after an American reconnaissance plane found the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were being built in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. In response, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval blockade around the island. The next phase constituted nearly 14 days of impossible stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger was clear. Should President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a series of worldwide atomic attacks and counterstrikes would have ensued, plunging mankind into all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought an unprecedented perspective to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders that, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Russians thinking? What was the American side thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "How can people detest one another to the point they confront each other?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that individuals can be friends or else have the potential to be total adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to fight."

A Brink of Disaster

What’s striking regarding this event is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world could watch almost in real time as it moved closer to disaster. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than what most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed the aircraft carriers as well as sunk our largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are always wonderful or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that perspective was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, following almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp