‘After nearly destroying our world, our relatives have become friends’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, humanity veered nearer to annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened when an American surveillance plane discovered that Soviet atomic weapon bases were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted nearly a fortnight filled with extreme stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The peril was palpable. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, thrusting mankind into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, through volumes, movies, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel element to the story. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the men who, over two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What was the United States considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its endeavor to explore: "Why do nations detest one another to the point they confront each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that people can be friends or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What is notable about this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens around the world were able to observe nearly in real time as it edged closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what most people realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of hope.

A Different Perspective

Still, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative picture of events.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always wonderful and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, in part, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we connected really well and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to grasp