‘After almost annihilating our planet, our families are allies’: a thrilling audio series from JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet edged closer to annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This occurred following the discovery that an American surveillance plane discovered that Russian nuclear weapon installations were being assembled in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period was almost a fortnight filled with extreme stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The threat was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a series involving global atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, plunging mankind toward total ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, through volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new perspective to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders that, over two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What were the American side thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to question: "How can nations hate one another and go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that people have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author and attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about this event was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened as it moved closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation came closer than most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would have destroyed the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. And, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was immense, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Perspective

Still, for those 13 days in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, and Nina learned about it through the Soviet education system, which presented a slightly different version of events.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that view was not held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is that we now are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp