Following almost destroying the planet, the relatives have become friends’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet came closer to annihilation more so than ever during recent history. This happened after a US surveillance plane identified the fact that Russian atomic missile sites were under construction on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase was almost two weeks of impossible stress.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained clear. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, casting civilization into total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, in volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new element into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders who, over two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What were Washington planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people detest each other to the point they oppose one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that humans have the potential to be friends or else can become total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to fight."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens around the world could watch nearly as it happened as it moved closer to armageddon. However, the danger of destruction came closer than most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would have destroyed the naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine and sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and the USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Present Perils

Or is it? Part of why this series feels so necessary is because we now are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to learn