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

In the month of October 1962, humanity edged closer toward destruction than at any other point in recent history. This happened when an American surveillance plane found that Russian nuclear missile sites were being built on Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval blockade around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly a fortnight of unbearable tension.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger remained clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade of global atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, plunging humanity into total destruction.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in volumes, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a novel element into the story. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders that, over 13 days, grasped the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Russians planning? What were Washington thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the podcast is its attempt to question: "Why do people detest one another to the point they go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total enemies," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently a writer as well as attorney. "We see this over and over when countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened while it moved closer to disaster. However, the threat of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would have destroyed the aircraft carriers and sunk America's primary fleet. And, 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, they succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented an alternative picture of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, which was a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most significant thing is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"We are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame since we got along immediately and now we are friends, which is really great. Finally, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend