‘After almost annihilating our planet, the families have become friends’: the gripping audio series from JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, humanity veered closer to annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft identified that Russian atomic missile installations were being assembled in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to enact a maritime blockade around the island. The next phase constituted nearly 14 days of impossible stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger was obvious. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, thrusting humanity toward all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, in books, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel dimension into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the figures who, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What were the United States thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor of global relations.

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

"It struck me how spectacular it is that humans can be friends or have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is notable about this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally were able to observe almost in real time while it crept closer to catastrophe. However, the danger of annihilation came closer than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk the naval vessels as well as sunk America's primary naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly fine and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "They told me what a great occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of optimism.

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

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is unfortunate because we connected immediately and we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, following nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn