Following almost destroying the world, our relatives have become allies’: a gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the planet came nearer toward destruction than at any other point during modern times. This happened when an American reconnaissance plane discovered that Russian atomic weapon sites were under construction in Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. In response, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase was nearly two weeks of impossible stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat was clear. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a series of worldwide atomic strikes and counterstrikes might have ensued, casting humanity into total oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new element into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures who, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Russians considering? What were the American side planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in global relations.

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

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that people have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author as well as attorney. "We see this over and over when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What is remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired so publicly, citizens globally could watch nearly in real time as it edged closer to armageddon. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've obliterated the aircraft carriers and destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative picture of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always fine and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that view 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 Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we connected really well and we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, after almost six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages are now friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp