‘After almost annihilating our planet, our families are allies’: a gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the planet came nearer to annihilation more so than ever in modern times. This transpired when a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet atomic weapon sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine around Cuba. What followed was almost a fortnight of extreme tension.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat was palpable. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging humanity into total destruction.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new element to the story. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders who, for 13 days, grasped the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Russians thinking? What was the United States planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to question: "Why do nations detest one another and oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals can be allies or else can become total enemies," states Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now an author and attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to fight."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What is striking regarding this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, people worldwide could watch almost in real time while it moved closer to disaster. Even so, the risk of destruction came closer than most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've destroyed the naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when everyone around them demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always wonderful and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle 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. "That is a shame since we got along immediately and we are friends, which is really great. Finally, following almost six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn