Following almost destroying the planet, the families have become friends’: a thrilling audio series featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the planet veered closer to ruin more so than ever during modern times. This transpired when an American surveillance plane found that Russian atomic missile bases were being assembled on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. In response, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around the island. The next phase constituted nearly 14 days of unbearable anxiety.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger remained palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a series involving global nuclear attacks and counterstrikes could have ensued, plunging humanity into all-out oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered endlessly, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented dimension to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the figures that, for 13 days, grasped the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What were the United States considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "Why do nations detest one another and oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that people have the potential to be friends or can become complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s striking about this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened while it crept closer to catastrophe. Even so, the danger of annihilation came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different version of events.

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

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a positive thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend