‘After nearly destroying our world, our relatives have become allies’: the gripping audio series featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet came closer toward destruction more so than ever in modern times. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft identified that Russian atomic missile sites were being assembled on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. What followed was nearly two weeks of unbearable anxiety.

An Catastrophic Threat

The peril was palpable. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade involving global nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, casting mankind into total ruination.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel element into the story. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders who, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What was Washington considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor of global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can nations hate one another and confront one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or else can become complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "History shows this over and over when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded so publicly, people worldwide could watch almost as it happened while it crept closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have sunk the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, we would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are always fine or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most significant thing is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of hope.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again 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 have the capacity to learn