‘After nearly annihilating our planet, our families have become friends’: a thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the world edged nearer toward annihilation than at any other point in recent history. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance plane discovered the fact that Soviet atomic missile bases were being assembled in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The next phase was almost two weeks filled with unbearable stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained palpable. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a cascade of global nuclear strikes and counterstrikes might have followed, thrusting mankind toward total ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, in volumes, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented element to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures that, for two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What was the American side planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do people detest each other to the point they oppose each other?"

"It struck me how profound it is that people have the potential to be friends or else can become complete enemies," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now an author and attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide were able to observe almost in real time as it edged closer to catastrophe. However, the danger of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, and Nina being taught about it through the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. Subsequently, though, that view was not shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union to 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 hope.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend