‘After almost destroying our planet, the relatives are friends’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity edged closer to destruction than at any other point in recent history. This transpired after an American surveillance aircraft discovered that Soviet atomic missile installations were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period was almost a fortnight of unbearable tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The peril was clear. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a series of worldwide nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes could have followed, thrusting humanity toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb presents an unprecedented element into the story. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men that, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Russians thinking? What were the American side considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do nations hate one another to the point they confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that people have the potential to be allies or else can become complete enemies," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens around the world were able to observe almost in real time as it edged towards catastrophe. However, the risk of destruction came closer than what most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've destroyed the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative picture of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware 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."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and well produced that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most significant aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative 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 a shame since we got along immediately and we are friends, which is really great. Finally, following nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend