‘After nearly destroying our planet, our families have become allies’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet edged closer toward ruin than at any other point in the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft discovered that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine around the island. What followed was nearly two weeks filled with unbearable tension.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger remained palpable. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a series of worldwide nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes would have followed, thrusting mankind toward all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, through volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men that, for two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin thinking? What was the American side planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do people hate each other and oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that people have the potential to be friends or else can become total adversaries," remarks Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded so publicly, people globally could watch almost in real time as it moved closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction came closer than what most people realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would've destroyed the naval vessels as well as sunk America's primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following these events, and Nina learned about it through the Soviet education system, which portrayed an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly fine and positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided the war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is that we once again are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp