Following nearly annihilating the planet, the families have become allies’: a gripping audio series featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, humanity veered nearer toward ruin than at any other point during recent history. This occurred when an American surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were under construction on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval blockade around the island. The next phase constituted nearly 14 days of impossible tension.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained obvious. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a chain reaction of global nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, thrusting humanity into all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered endlessly, through books, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb presents a novel dimension to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures that, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Russians considering? What was Washington thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the strength of the show is its attempt to question: "Why do people hate one another and oppose one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that people can be friends or can become total adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now an author and attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Disaster

What is remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired so publicly, people globally were able to observe nearly as it happened while it moved closer to catastrophe. However, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have destroyed the naval vessels as well as sunk our primary naval force. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was the sense of hope.

A Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’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 version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are always wonderful or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that interpretation was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most significant aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following 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 Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we got along immediately and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades since almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become friends, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to learn