Following almost annihilating our planet, the families are allies’: a thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet edged closer to destruction more so than ever in recent history. This happened following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear missile bases were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted almost 14 days filled with impossible anxiety.

An Catastrophic Danger

The threat was clear. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a cascade involving global atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, casting civilization toward total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered endlessly, in books, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces an unprecedented dimension to the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the figures who, for 13 days, held the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Russians considering? What were the United States considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "How can people detest one another and confront each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable the fact that people have the potential to be allies or else can become total enemies," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over when countries have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable about this event was that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals around the world were able to observe nearly in real time while it moved towards disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've destroyed the aircraft carriers and destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation that would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva learned about it via the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a scary day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always wonderful or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. Later on, however, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend