‘After almost annihilating the world, our relatives are friends’: a thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world edged nearer to annihilation more so than ever during the contemporary era. This happened when a US reconnaissance aircraft identified that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. In response, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost 14 days of unbearable tension.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger was palpable. Should Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series of worldwide nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes might have followed, plunging humanity into total ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered endlessly, in books, movies, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new dimension into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures that, over two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the planet in their hands.

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

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can people hate each other and go against each other?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded so publicly, people globally could watch almost in real time while it edged towards catastrophe. Even so, the danger of destruction came closer than most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers and destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them demanded action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following the crisis, and Nina learned about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are always fine or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a positive thing," she continues. Later on, though, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of progress.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame since we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after nearly six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp