Following nearly annihilating our planet, our families have become friends’: the thrilling audio series featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, humanity veered closer to destruction than at any other point during recent history. This occurred when a US surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period was almost a fortnight of impossible anxiety.

An Catastrophic Threat

The peril was clear. If President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a cascade of global atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging mankind toward all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented dimension into the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders that, over 13 days, grasped the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What was Washington thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations.

In her view, the strength of the show is its endeavor to question: "How can people hate each other to the point they go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that people have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable about this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals globally were able to observe nearly as it happened as it edged closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation came closer than most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have sunk the aircraft carriers as well as sunk our primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them demanded military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that interpretation was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , well produced that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of hope.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our families have become friends, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend