Following nearly annihilating our world, the families have become allies’: a thrilling audio series from JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet veered closer to destruction than at any other point in modern times. This transpired after an American surveillance plane identified that Russian nuclear weapon sites were under construction in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to establish a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted nearly two weeks of extreme anxiety.

An Catastrophic Threat

The danger remained clear. If Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a cascade involving worldwide atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes could have followed, casting humanity into total destruction.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, in volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel perspective to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the men who, for two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Russians considering? What was Washington thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "Why do nations hate one another to the point they confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that individuals have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this over and over when countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s remarkable regarding this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world were able to observe almost in real time while it edged closer to armageddon. Even so, the threat of destruction was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his missiles based in Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Still, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which portrayed an alternative picture of events.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view would not be held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, in part, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"We are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame because we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following almost six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn