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

In October 1962, humanity came closer toward destruction more so than ever in recent history. This occurred following the discovery that a US surveillance plane identified that Russian nuclear weapon sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK directed a naval task force to enact a naval blockade encircling the island. The next phase constituted nearly a fortnight of unbearable tension.

An Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a cascade involving worldwide nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, thrusting humanity toward total oblivion.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, in volumes, films, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new dimension into the story. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Russians thinking? What was the United States planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can people hate each other to the point they go against one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be friends or can become total enemies," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now an author as well as attorney. "We see this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide could watch almost in real time as it edged towards catastrophe. However, the risk of destruction came closer than most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've destroyed the naval vessels as well as destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine and sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed and well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected immediately and we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following almost six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages are now allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp