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

In October 1962, the world came nearer to destruction more so than ever during recent history. This transpired following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Russian atomic weapon sites were being built in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling Cuba. What followed was nearly 14 days of unbearable tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The peril remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a chain reaction involving global atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, thrusting humanity toward all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been covered repeatedly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel element to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures who, for two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What were the American side planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can nations hate one another to the point they confront each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable the fact that humans can be allies or else can become total adversaries," remarks Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable about this event is that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe almost in real time while it edged closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk the naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when everyone around them demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after these events, and Nina learned about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different version of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always wonderful and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so balanced and well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most significant thing is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We aren't the first," notes Nina. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate because we got along really well and we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp