Following almost destroying the world, our families have become friends’: the thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the planet came nearer to annihilation than at any other point during modern times. This happened when a US reconnaissance aircraft found that Soviet atomic weapon installations were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to impose a naval blockade around the island. What followed was nearly two weeks filled with extreme tension.

An Catastrophic Danger

The peril remained clear. Should Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes and counterstrikes would have followed, plunging mankind into total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a novel perspective into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men who, over 13 days, controlled the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What were the American side thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "How can nations hate each other to the point they oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals can be friends or else have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author as well as lawyer. "We see this repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals globally were able to observe almost as it happened while it moved closer to disaster. Even so, the threat of destruction was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have sunk the aircraft carriers and sunk our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, with Nina being taught about it through the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly wonderful or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, though, that interpretation was not held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "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 prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now allies, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Present Perils

Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is that we once again are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp