‘After almost destroying the planet, our relatives are friends’: the gripping audio series from JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the planet edged nearer toward ruin more so than ever during modern times. This occurred when an American surveillance plane found that Soviet atomic weapon installations were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted nearly 14 days of extreme stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril was clear. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series involving global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, casting mankind toward total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented repeatedly, in volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel element to the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Russians planning? What was Washington planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to question: "How can people detest one another and oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now an author and lawyer. "We see this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide could watch nearly in real time as it crept towards disaster. However, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed the naval vessels as well as destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about it via the Soviet education system, which presented a slightly different picture of events.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly fine and positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that interpretation was not held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Perils

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn