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

In October 1962, the planet came nearer to annihilation than at any other point in recent history. This transpired after a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian nuclear weapon sites were being built in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. What followed constituted almost two weeks of extreme stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril was palpable. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a series of worldwide nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes would have ensued, casting mankind into total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new element into the story. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men who, for 13 days, held the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What was Washington considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the strength of the show lies in its attempt to question: "Why do individuals detest each other to the point they oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be allies or can become total adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently a writer and lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch nearly in real time while it edged closer to catastrophe. Even so, the danger of annihilation came closer than what anybody realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have sunk the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that perspective was not held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most momentous aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

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

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame since we connected really well and we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, following nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp