Following almost annihilating the planet, our relatives are allies’: the thrilling audio series from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, humanity came nearer to destruction more so than ever during recent history. This occurred when an American surveillance plane identified that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were being assembled on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime blockade around the island. The next phase constituted nearly two weeks filled with unbearable tension.

An Catastrophic Threat

The danger was clear. If President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a chain reaction of global nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, casting civilization toward all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new dimension into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men who, for two tense weeks, held the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Russians thinking? What was the United States planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can nations hate one another to the point they go against each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that humans can be friends or can become total adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time as it crept closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation came closer than most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated our naval vessels and sunk America's largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, for those two weeks in October, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about it through the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always fine or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," 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 the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. But, really, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and 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 symbol of hope.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families are now friends, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend