Following almost annihilating the planet, our families are friends’: a thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet came nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during the contemporary era. This happened when a US surveillance plane discovered that Soviet nuclear missile bases were being built in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days filled with unbearable tension.

An Catastrophic Threat

The threat remained obvious. If Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, plunging humanity toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been covered extensively, through books, films, and television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented perspective into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures that, over 13 days, held the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What was the American side considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do people hate each other to the point they go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that humans can be friends or else can become total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals around the world could watch almost as it happened while it crept towards catastrophe. Even so, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than what most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would've sunk the naval vessels and destroyed America's primary naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate when everyone around them demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days in October, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different version of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always wonderful and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Later on, though, that view would not be held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame because we got along immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp