Following nearly annihilating our world, the families have become friends’: a thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, humanity veered closer toward ruin than at any other point during the contemporary era. This transpired when a US surveillance aircraft discovered that Russian nuclear missile bases were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. In response, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted nearly 14 days of unbearable stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The threat was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction of global atomic attacks and counterstrikes would have followed, plunging civilization toward total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought an unprecedented element to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders that, for two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

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

In her view, the strength of the show is its attempt to explore: "Why do nations hate each other and confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals can be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author and attorney. "History shows this over and over when nations enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is notable about this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it crept towards disaster. Even so, the threat of destruction was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would've sunk our naval vessels and sunk our primary fleet. In turn, we would have responded through massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements around them was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly fine and positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that view would not be held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend