‘After almost destroying the planet, our families have become allies’: the gripping audio series from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet came nearer toward ruin than at any other point in recent history. This occurred after an American reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Soviet atomic weapon installations were being built on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to enact a naval blockade around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly 14 days of impossible stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat was obvious. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a cascade of global nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes would have ensued, thrusting mankind toward all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined repeatedly, through volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel perspective to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures who, for two tense weeks, held the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin thinking? What was Washington thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic of global relations.

In her view, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do individuals detest each other to the point they go against each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that individuals can be friends or have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author and attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people globally could watch nearly in real time as it crept closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would have obliterated our naval vessels as well as sunk our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative narrative of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine and sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that view would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced , well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we connected really well and we are friends, which is really great. Finally, after almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our families are now 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 that we once again are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp