Following almost destroying the world, our families are allies’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world came closer to annihilation more so than ever in modern times. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft found the fact that Russian atomic weapon bases were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. What followed constituted nearly two weeks filled with extreme stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The danger was obvious. Should Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade of global atomic attacks and counterstrikes would have ensued, casting humanity into all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a completely new perspective into the story. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men that, for 13 days, held the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Russians planning? What was the United States thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "Why do nations detest one another to the point they oppose each other?"

"It struck me how profound it is that individuals have the potential to 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. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to fight."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals around the world were able to observe nearly in real time while it crept closer to armageddon. Even so, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would have destroyed the naval vessels as well as destroyed our largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly wonderful or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the leaders 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 progress.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and now we are friends, which is really great. Finally, following nearly six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we now are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to learn