‘After almost destroying the world, our relatives are allies’: a thrilling audio series featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, humanity edged nearer toward ruin more so than ever during modern times. This happened following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane found the fact that Russian nuclear missile installations were being assembled in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. In response, President JFK directed a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted nearly a fortnight filled with impossible tension.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat was obvious. If President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade of global atomic strikes and counterstrikes could have ensued, casting mankind toward total destruction.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, through books, films, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel dimension into the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders who, for 13 days, held the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Russians planning? What were the American side thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can individuals detest each other and go against one another?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that people can be allies or have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally were able to observe nearly as it happened as it moved closer to catastrophe. Even so, the risk of destruction came closer than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's primary fleet. And, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American missiles based in Turkey. The relief was immense, as was a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative narrative of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most significant thing is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp