‘After almost annihilating the planet, the families have become friends’: a thrilling audio series featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the world edged closer toward annihilation more so than ever in modern times. This transpired when an American surveillance plane found the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were under construction in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted nearly two weeks filled with unbearable anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained clear. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes would have ensued, thrusting humanity toward total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, through volumes, films, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new perspective to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the figures who, for 13 days, held the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin considering? What was Washington thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "How can individuals hate each other to the point they oppose each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that humans can be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to fight."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals worldwide could watch almost as it happened as it moved towards catastrophe. However, 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 an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've destroyed our naval vessels and destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, who managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them demanded military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different picture of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of progress.

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

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame since we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to learn