‘After nearly destroying our planet, the families are friends’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet edged nearer toward destruction more so than ever during recent history. This transpired when a US reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine encircling the island. What followed was nearly two weeks filled with impossible stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes would have followed, thrusting mankind toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, in books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented dimension to the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures that, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What was the United States planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to explore: "Why do individuals detest each other to the point they go against one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that people can be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable about this event was that, since it transpired so publicly, people worldwide could watch almost as it happened while it edged closer to armageddon. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk the aircraft carriers and sunk our largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following these events, and Nina being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We are not the first," notes Nina. "After 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend