‘After almost annihilating our world, the relatives have become allies’: a gripping audio series from JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the world veered nearer to annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This happened after a US reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Russian nuclear weapon installations were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to establish a naval blockade around the island. The ensuing period was nearly two weeks of extreme stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, thrusting mankind into all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented endlessly, through books, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new element to the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures who, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What were the American side planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do people detest one another to the point they oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that people can be friends or can become complete enemies," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as attorney. "We see this repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Disaster

What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals around the world could watch almost as it happened while it edged closer to armageddon. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed the aircraft carriers and destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly fine or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of America and USSR would appear side by side. 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 progress.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we connected really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn