‘After nearly destroying the planet, the relatives have become friends’: a thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet came nearer toward destruction more so than ever in recent history. This occurred when an American reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Russian nuclear missile bases were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. What followed was nearly a fortnight of impossible anxiety.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger was palpable. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, thrusting mankind into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, in books, movies, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel dimension into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men that, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What was the American side planning?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of global relations.

For her, the strength of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can individuals detest each other to the point they confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that humans can be friends or can become complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to fight."

A Brink of Disaster

What is striking regarding this event was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide could watch nearly in real time while it crept towards disaster. However, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk the naval vessels and destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when everyone around them demanded military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about it via the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative picture of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "They told me what a great occasion 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 continues. Later on, though, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from historians. But, really, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of progress.

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

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our families are now allies, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to learn