‘After almost destroying the world, the relatives are allies’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world came nearer toward ruin more so than ever in recent history. This happened after an American surveillance plane identified that Russian nuclear weapon installations were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period was nearly a fortnight of extreme tension.

The Unthinkable Danger

The danger remained clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes would have followed, plunging mankind into all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been covered extensively, through volumes, films, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new perspective into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders that, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What were the United States considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can nations hate one another and oppose one another?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that people can be allies or else can become complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens globally could watch almost in real time as it crept closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than most people realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed our naval vessels and sunk America's primary fleet. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they managed to keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments demanded military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly wonderful or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion it was, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, though, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most significant thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and now we are friends, which is really great. Finally, following almost six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become allies, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series seems so urgent is because we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn