‘After nearly annihilating the planet, our relatives have become friends’: the thrilling audio series featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the world came closer toward annihilation than at any other point in modern times. This occurred after an American reconnaissance aircraft found that Soviet atomic missile installations were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days of impossible stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The peril was palpable. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, plunging humanity toward total destruction.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a completely new dimension to the story. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men that, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Russians considering? What were the American side planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor of international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can individuals hate one another and go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular it is that people have the potential to be allies or can become complete enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Precipice of Disaster

What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people globally were able to observe almost in real time as it moved towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've sunk our naval vessels as well as destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always wonderful or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most momentous aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now friends, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp