‘After nearly destroying our planet, the relatives are allies’: the thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the planet came closer toward destruction than at any other point in modern times. This occurred when an American surveillance plane identified the fact that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being built on Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine around the island. The next phase constituted almost a fortnight filled with impossible stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril was obvious. Should Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series involving global atomic attacks and counterstrikes might have ensued, casting humanity into total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered endlessly, through books, films, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel dimension into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men that, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What was Washington considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to question: "How can individuals hate each other and confront one another?"

"It struck me how profound it is that humans can be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it crept closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation came closer than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated the aircraft carriers and sunk America's largest and most important fleet. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, with Nina being taught about it through the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced , well produced that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, in part, due to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most significant thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of America and USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We are not the first," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we connected immediately and we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why this series feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp