Following nearly annihilating our world, our families are allies’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the world veered nearer toward destruction more so than ever during the contemporary era. This transpired when an American reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Soviet atomic missile installations were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime blockade encircling the island. What followed was nearly a fortnight of extreme tension.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat was clear. If Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, thrusting mankind into all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a novel dimension to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders that, over two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What were the United States considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor of global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its attempt to question: "Why do people hate each other and go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that humans can be friends or else can become complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What is striking regarding this event is that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens globally were able to observe almost as it happened as it edged closer to disaster. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would have obliterated our naval vessels and sunk our largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments demanded action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, during those two weeks in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different version of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great moment it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Subsequently, though, that view was not held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of America and the USSR would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected immediately and we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since almost destroying the world, our families have become friends, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series seems so urgent is because we now are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn