‘After almost destroying the world, the relatives are friends’: the gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world came nearer to destruction more so than ever during modern times. This occurred following the discovery that a US surveillance plane discovered the fact that Russian atomic missile sites were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days filled with impossible anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The peril was clear. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, casting mankind into total oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, in books, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the men that, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What was the United States thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its attempt to explore: "Why do individuals hate one another and go against each other?"

"It struck me how profound it is that people can be allies or can become total enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now a writer and attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly involved to fight."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s striking regarding this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, people around the world were able to observe almost in real time while it crept towards catastrophe. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, we would have responded through massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy when everyone around them was pushing for military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Nina learned about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly fine or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that view was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of progress.

"We are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate because we connected immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend