Following almost annihilating the world, our families are allies’: a gripping audio series featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, humanity veered closer toward annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred after a US surveillance plane found that Russian nuclear weapon sites were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. What followed was nearly a fortnight of impossible stress.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat was obvious. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, casting mankind into total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined extensively, through volumes, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought an unprecedented perspective into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures who, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Russians planning? What were the American side thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do individuals hate one another and oppose one another?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s striking about this event is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time as it crept towards catastrophe. Even so, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have obliterated our aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles from Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope.

A Different Perspective

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly fine or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, however, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and the USSR would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame because we got along immediately and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp