‘After almost destroying our world, the relatives have become allies’: a thrilling audio series from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the world came closer to destruction more so than ever in the contemporary era. This transpired after a US reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being built in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a naval quarantine around the island. The next phase was nearly a fortnight of extreme stress.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained clear. If President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a series of global nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes would have followed, plunging humanity into total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented extensively, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel element into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures who, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Russians considering? What was the United States planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to question: "Why do individuals hate one another and confront each other?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that individuals can be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now a writer and attorney. "We see this over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to fight."

A Precipice of Disaster

What is notable regarding this event was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide were able to observe almost as it happened while it edged closer to catastrophe. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than what anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed the aircraft carriers and destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Different Perspective

Still, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that perspective would not be shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost six decades since almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend