‘After nearly annihilating our planet, our families have become allies’: the thrilling audio series featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the planet veered closer toward destruction than at any other point in modern times. This happened following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear missile sites were under construction on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted almost two weeks filled with impossible stress.

An Catastrophic Danger

The threat remained clear. If President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a cascade of global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, thrusting humanity into total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, through books, films, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new element into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the figures that, for 13 days, grasped the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What were the American side planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "Why do individuals hate each other and confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and now a writer and attorney. "We see this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is remarkable about this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time as it crept closer to armageddon. However, the danger of annihilation came closer than most people realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would've destroyed the naval vessels and destroyed our primary fleet. And, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments demanded military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Different Perspective

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we got along really well and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become friends, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils

Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to learn