‘After almost annihilating the world, our families are allies’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, humanity edged nearer to ruin more so than ever in recent history. This happened after an American surveillance plane found that Russian atomic weapon installations were being built in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval blockade around the island. The next phase was nearly a fortnight of extreme stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat was clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a series involving worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes would have followed, thrusting mankind into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered extensively, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented perspective to the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders that, over 13 days, held the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What were the American side thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to question: "How can people detest one another and oppose each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that individuals can be allies or have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently a writer and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to fight."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s notable about this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens globally were able to observe almost in real time as it crept towards disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have obliterated the aircraft carriers and sunk our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly fine and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. Later on, though, that view was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, due to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is because we once again are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to learn