‘After almost destroying the planet, our families are allies’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet edged closer to annihilation than at any other point during recent history. This transpired following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The next phase constituted almost 14 days filled with impossible tension.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, thrusting humanity toward all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined extensively, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a novel element into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures who, for two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What was the United States planning?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people hate one another to the point they go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that people have the potential to be allies or can become complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now an author and attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to fight."

A Precipice of Disaster

What’s remarkable about this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens worldwide were able to observe almost in real time as it edged closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would've destroyed our naval vessels and destroyed our largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following the crisis, with Nina being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative picture of events.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, though, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we connected immediately and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since almost destroying the world, our families have become allies, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp