‘After nearly destroying our world, our relatives are friends’: a gripping audio series featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the world came nearer to destruction than at any other point during modern times. This happened when an American reconnaissance plane discovered that Russian atomic weapon installations were being built in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly a fortnight of impossible anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril was clear. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a cascade of global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, plunging mankind toward total oblivion.

The October crisis has been covered extensively, through books, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel dimension to the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures who, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What was the United States thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do people detest each other and go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or can become complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable regarding this event was that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals globally were able to observe almost in real time as it moved closer to disaster. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have obliterated the aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments was pushing for military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so even-handed , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of America and USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 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 because we got along really well and we’re friends, something that is really great. Finally, after nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend