Following nearly destroying the planet, our families are allies’: a thrilling audio series featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, humanity came closer to ruin than at any other point in the contemporary era. This happened when an American surveillance plane discovered that Russian nuclear weapon sites were being built on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval quarantine around Cuba. What followed constituted almost 14 days filled with unbearable tension.

An Unthinkable Threat

The peril was obvious. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, casting mankind toward all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel element to the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men who, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What were Washington planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do people hate each other to the point they oppose one another?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that people can be friends or else can become total adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently an author as well as attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to fight."

A Brink of Disaster

What is notable about this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens around the world could watch almost as it happened while it edged closer to disaster. Even so, the threat of destruction was more imminent than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've destroyed the naval vessels as well as destroyed America's primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always wonderful and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend