Following nearly annihilating our planet, the families are allies’: the thrilling audio series from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, humanity veered nearer toward destruction more so than ever in modern times. This occurred when an American reconnaissance plane identified that Russian atomic weapon sites were under construction on Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period constituted almost a fortnight filled with unbearable stress.

An Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained obvious. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, casting mankind toward total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered extensively, in books, films, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a novel perspective to the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures who, over 13 days, controlled the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Russians considering? What were the American side considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its endeavor to question: "How can individuals detest each other and confront each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that people have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when nations have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Disaster

What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens globally could watch nearly in real time while it edged closer to disaster. However, the threat of destruction came closer than most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would have sunk our naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative narrative of events.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that view was not shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , well produced that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we connected immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become friends, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to grasp