Following almost annihilating the planet, the relatives are allies’: a gripping audio series featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity came closer to destruction more so than ever during recent history. This occurred when an American reconnaissance plane found that Russian nuclear weapon bases were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost a fortnight of unbearable anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The peril was clear. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a series involving worldwide nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, thrusting mankind toward all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, through volumes, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented element to the story. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders who, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What was the American side considering?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "Why do individuals detest each other to the point they oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that humans have the potential to be friends or can become complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when nations have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people around the world could watch nearly as it happened as it crept towards armageddon. Even so, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than what most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have destroyed the naval vessels and sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most 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 around them was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly wonderful and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that view was not held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "That is a shame because we connected really well and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp