‘After nearly destroying the planet, our families have become allies’: the thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the world came closer to destruction than at any other point in modern times. This transpired after a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet atomic weapon installations were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period was nearly two weeks of impossible tension.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a chain reaction of global atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, casting humanity toward total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, in volumes, movies, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel perspective to the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the figures that, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Russians considering? What was Washington planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can nations detest each other to the point they oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to fight."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch almost as it happened as it edged towards armageddon. Even so, the danger of destruction came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would've obliterated the naval vessels as well as destroyed our primary fleet. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different picture of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a scary day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly fine or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of progress.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our families are now friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend