‘After almost annihilating the planet, the relatives have become friends’: a thrilling audio series featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, humanity edged closer toward ruin more so than ever during modern times. This happened when a US reconnaissance plane identified that Russian atomic missile sites were being built on Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to enact a naval blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted nearly a fortnight filled with extreme stress.

An Unthinkable Threat

The danger was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, casting mankind into total oblivion.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, in volumes, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel element into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders who, over 13 days, controlled the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Russians planning? What was the American side considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can nations hate one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or can become complete enemies," states Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

The Brink of Disaster

What’s notable about this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, people around the world were able to observe almost as it happened while it crept towards disaster. Even so, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have sunk our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. And, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative narrative of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always wonderful or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. Later on, however, that view would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most significant thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to learn