Following nearly annihilating the planet, our families are allies’: the thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, humanity came nearer toward destruction than at any other point during modern times. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft identified that Russian atomic missile installations were being assembled on Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly a fortnight filled with unbearable tension.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a cascade of worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, plunging humanity toward total destruction.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, in books, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a novel dimension into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures who, for 13 days, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Russians considering? What were Washington planning?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show is its endeavor to explore: "Why do nations hate one another to the point they confront each other?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What is remarkable regarding this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens around the world were able to observe almost in real time while it moved towards armageddon. Even so, the risk of destruction was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've destroyed the naval vessels and destroyed America's primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles based in Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly wonderful or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most significant aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we got along immediately and now we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is that we now are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend