‘After almost destroying the planet, the families are friends’: a gripping audio series from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet veered closer toward annihilation than at any other point during the contemporary era. This occurred when a US surveillance aircraft discovered that Soviet nuclear missile installations were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. The next phase constituted almost two weeks of extreme stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger was clear. Should Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a cascade involving global nuclear strikes and counterstrikes might have followed, casting mankind into all-out ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined repeatedly, through volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new element into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the figures who, over two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What was the United States planning?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do people detest each other and oppose one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that people can be allies or have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about this event is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide could watch nearly as it happened as it edged closer to disaster. Even so, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have sunk our naval vessels as well as sunk our primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by the sense of hope.

The Different Perspective

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different picture of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system 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 for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp