‘After nearly destroying our world, our relatives have become allies’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, humanity came closer to destruction than at any other point in the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance plane discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being built in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. The ensuing period was nearly a fortnight filled with extreme stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger remained obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have followed, thrusting civilization into total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined repeatedly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented perspective to the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures who, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Russians planning? What were the United States thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic of global relations.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can people hate one another to the point they confront one another?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that humans can be friends or else can become complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as lawyer. "We see this over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Disaster

What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired so publicly, people around the world were able to observe almost in real time as it edged closer to armageddon. Even so, the danger of annihilation came closer than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have destroyed the aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his missiles based in Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was the sense of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always wonderful and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that view was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most significant thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son 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 got along really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become allies, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Current Perils

Or is it? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp