‘After nearly destroying the world, our families are friends’: the gripping audio series featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the planet edged nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This transpired after an American surveillance plane found the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon installations were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to establish a naval quarantine around the island. The ensuing period was almost a fortnight filled with unbearable tension.

An Unthinkable Threat

The danger was palpable. If President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a cascade involving global nuclear attacks and counterstrikes could have ensued, thrusting mankind into all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been covered repeatedly, in volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a novel perspective into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men that, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin thinking? What were the American side considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "How can individuals hate each other to the point they go against each other?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or can become total adversaries," states Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Precipice of Disaster

What is striking regarding this event is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide could watch nearly in real time as it edged closer to disaster. However, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as sunk our largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles based in Turkey. The relief was immense, as was a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, during those two weeks in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which portrayed an alternative narrative of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always fine or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that view would not be held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to learn