‘After nearly destroying the planet, our relatives have become allies’: the thrilling audio series from JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world veered closer toward annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This happened when a US surveillance aircraft identified that Russian atomic weapon installations were being built on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. What followed constituted almost two weeks filled with impossible tension.

The Catastrophic Threat

The threat was clear. Should President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction of global nuclear strikes and counterstrikes might have ensued, thrusting civilization toward all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, through volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented perspective to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men that, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What was the American side thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can people detest each other and confront each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that humans have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now a writer and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to fight."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, people globally were able to observe almost in real time while it edged towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians on the ground would have fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would have obliterated our aircraft carriers and destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of hope.

A Different Perspective

Still, for those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always wonderful and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend