Following almost destroying our planet, the relatives have become allies’: a thrilling audio series featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the world came nearer toward destruction more so than ever during recent history. This transpired when an American reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Soviet atomic missile installations were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted almost a fortnight of extreme tension.

An Catastrophic Threat

The threat remained clear. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a series of worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging humanity toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, through volumes, films, and television programmes. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented perspective into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the figures that, for 13 days, held the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Russians considering? What was Washington thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can nations detest one another and confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now a writer and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people around the world could watch nearly in real time as it moved towards disaster. Even so, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would have obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as sunk our primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was the sense of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly fine or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we got along really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend