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

In October 1962, humanity veered nearer toward destruction than at any other point during recent history. This occurred following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being assembled on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine encircling the island. What followed constituted nearly two weeks of impossible tension.

The Catastrophic Threat

The threat was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes would have followed, plunging civilization into total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new perspective into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men that, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin considering? What were the United States planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show lies in its endeavor to question: "How can nations hate one another and oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be total enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to fight."

The Brink of Disaster

What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time as it edged towards disaster. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have obliterated the naval vessels as well as sunk our primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American missiles from Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "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 always wonderful and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and the USSR would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend