Following nearly annihilating the world, the families have become allies’: a gripping audio series featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet came closer toward ruin than at any other point in the contemporary era. This happened after an American reconnaissance plane found the fact that Russian atomic weapon bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost 14 days of extreme tension.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger was obvious. If Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a cascade involving global nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes might have followed, plunging civilization into total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented extensively, through volumes, films, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents an unprecedented element to the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders who, for two tense weeks, held the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What was the American side considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the show is its endeavor to explore: "Why do people hate one another to the point they go against one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that individuals can be allies or else can become complete enemies," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author and lawyer. "We see this over and over when countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to fight."

A Precipice of Disaster

What is notable about this event is that, since it transpired so publicly, people around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened while it moved towards catastrophe. However, the danger of destruction came closer than most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've destroyed our aircraft carriers and sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to keep their heads while calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Nina learned about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different picture of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly wonderful and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, though, that view would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we got along immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become friends, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series seems so urgent is because we once again are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn