‘After nearly annihilating the planet, the relatives are friends’: a thrilling audio series from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world edged nearer to ruin than at any other point during the contemporary era. This occurred when an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic weapon installations were being assembled on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade encircling the island. The next phase constituted nearly 14 days of unbearable tension.

An Catastrophic Threat

The danger remained palpable. If Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a series of global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging civilization toward total oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, through books, films, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel element into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders who, for two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What were the United States thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic of international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can individuals hate one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that humans can be friends or can become complete enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently a writer and lawyer. "History shows this over and over when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is notable regarding this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens globally could watch almost in real time while it edged closer to armageddon. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk our aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's primary fleet. In turn, 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 succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"We aren't the first," notes Nina. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and we’re friends, something that is really great. Finally, following nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages are now allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp