Following nearly annihilating our world, the relatives are allies’: a thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world came nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during the contemporary era. This happened after an American reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Soviet atomic missile installations were under construction in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a naval blockade encircling Cuba. What followed constituted nearly a fortnight of extreme stress.

An Catastrophic Danger

The threat remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a series of global nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes would have followed, casting civilization into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented extensively, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new dimension into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men that, over two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Russians considering? What were Washington thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can nations detest each other to the point they confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or else can become total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now an author and attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s striking regarding this event was that, because it transpired so publicly, people globally could watch nearly as it happened as it edged towards armageddon. However, the danger of destruction was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would've obliterated the naval vessels as well as destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments demanded military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always wonderful or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided the war, which was a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now friends, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to learn