‘After almost annihilating our world, our relatives have become allies’: the gripping audio series from JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity veered nearer toward destruction than at any other point in recent history. This happened following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane found the fact that Soviet atomic weapon bases were under construction on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine around the island. The next phase constituted almost 14 days filled with extreme anxiety.

The Catastrophic Threat

The peril remained clear. If President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a cascade involving worldwide atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging mankind toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, through books, films, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel dimension to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders who, over 13 days, grasped the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What were the American side planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do individuals detest each other and confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or else can become total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author and attorney. "We see this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to fight."

A Precipice of Disaster

What is striking regarding this event was that, since it transpired so publicly, citizens worldwide could watch almost as it happened while it moved towards armageddon. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed the naval vessels as well as sunk our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine and sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, which was a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to grasp