‘After nearly annihilating the planet, the relatives are allies’: a thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, humanity veered nearer toward ruin than at any other point in modern times. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane found the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The next phase constituted nearly 14 days filled with impossible stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger remained clear. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a cascade of worldwide atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging civilization into total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined extensively, in volumes, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought an unprecedented dimension into the story. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures that, over 13 days, held the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What were the American side thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to question: "How can individuals hate each other to the point they go against each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world could watch nearly as it happened while it edged towards disaster. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would've obliterated the aircraft carriers and sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Nina being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of events.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly wonderful and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Perils

Or is it? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we now are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn