‘After almost destroying our planet, our families have become allies’: the thrilling audio series from JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world veered nearer toward destruction more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred when an American surveillance aircraft found that Soviet atomic missile sites were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade around the island. The next phase constituted almost two weeks of unbearable anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, casting mankind toward total oblivion.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, in books, movies, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought an unprecedented perspective into the story. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures who, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What was the United States planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic of global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do nations detest one another and oppose each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now an author and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is notable about this event was that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens around the world were able to observe almost as it happened while it edged towards armageddon. However, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than most people realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as destroyed our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Subsequently, though, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of historians. But, really, the most significant thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Current Perils

Or is it? Part of why this series feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to grasp