‘After almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends’: the thrilling audio series from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, humanity veered closer to ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic missile sites were under construction on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine around Cuba. What followed constituted nearly two weeks of unbearable anxiety.

The Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction of global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, thrusting civilization toward all-out oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, through books, films, and television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents an unprecedented element to the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the figures who, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands.

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

In her view, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can individuals hate one another to the point they go against each other?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that people can be allies or else can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Disaster

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded so publicly, people worldwide could watch almost as it happened as it crept closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would've destroyed the naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly fine or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that view would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our families have become allies, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend