Following nearly destroying our world, our relatives are allies’: a gripping audio series from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, humanity came nearer to annihilation more so than ever in modern times. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance plane found the fact that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade around the island. What followed constituted nearly 14 days of unbearable stress.

An Catastrophic Danger

The danger was palpable. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a chain reaction of global nuclear attacks and counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging humanity into all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, in books, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a completely new perspective into the story. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men who, for 13 days, grasped the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Russians planning? What was Washington considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its endeavor to question: "Why do nations hate each other to the point they go against one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that people have the potential to be allies or else can become total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s striking about this event is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch almost as it happened as it moved towards disaster. Even so, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have sunk our naval vessels as well as destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, with Nina being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different picture of what happened.

"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, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly wonderful and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to learn