Following nearly destroying the planet, the families are allies’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity veered nearer toward ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened when an American reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Russian nuclear weapon installations were under construction on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. In response, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period was almost a fortnight filled with unbearable stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The threat remained obvious. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series involving global nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes would have followed, thrusting mankind toward all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented repeatedly, in volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb presents a novel element into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders that, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the planet in their hands.

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

For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can individuals hate one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that people have the potential to be friends or else can become total adversaries," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s striking about this event was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world were able to observe nearly in real time while it crept closer to disaster. Even so, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than most people realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, who managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, for those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly fine or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR would appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of hope.

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

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we connected really well and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following almost six decades of almost destroying the world, our families have become allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn