‘After almost annihilating the world, the relatives are friends’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity came nearer to annihilation more so than ever in modern times. This occurred when an American reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Russian nuclear weapon bases were being built in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval quarantine around the island. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days of extreme anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a series of global atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes would have ensued, plunging mankind into all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented extensively, in volumes, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new dimension to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders who, over two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What were the United States thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic of international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "Why do individuals hate each other and confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that individuals can be friends or have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s remarkable regarding this event is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch almost in real time while it crept closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would have destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different picture of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly fine or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided the war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that view would not be held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

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

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "That is a shame because we connected immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series feels so necessary is because we once again are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to learn