‘After almost destroying the world, the families are allies’: a gripping audio series featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, humanity veered closer to ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane identified that Russian nuclear missile sites were being assembled in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted almost two weeks of impossible anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes could have followed, plunging mankind into total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented extensively, in volumes, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel dimension to this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders who, over two tense weeks, held the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Russians planning? What was the United States planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can individuals hate each other and go against each other?"

"It struck me how profound it is that people have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer and lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable regarding this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals around the world could watch almost as it happened as it crept closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than what most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated the naval vessels as well as sunk America's primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most significant thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of progress.

"We are not the first," smiles Nina. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we connected really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Finally, following almost six decades since almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn