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

During October 1962, humanity veered nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during the contemporary era. This transpired after an American reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Russian atomic weapon installations were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period was nearly a fortnight of extreme stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat was palpable. If Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a cascade of global atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, casting humanity toward total oblivion.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, through books, movies, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a novel perspective to the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures that, over 13 days, grasped the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What were the United States planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor of international affairs.

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

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or can become total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to fight."

A Brink of Disaster

What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens around the world were able to observe almost in real time as it moved towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've sunk our naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which presented a slightly different version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and well produced so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of America and USSR would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost six decades since almost destroying the world, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of why this series seems so urgent is that we now are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend