Following nearly annihilating our planet, our relatives are friends’: a gripping audio series featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet edged nearer to ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred when a US reconnaissance plane identified that Russian atomic weapon bases were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. What followed was almost 14 days of impossible tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The peril was clear. Should President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a series involving global nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, casting mankind into all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered endlessly, through books, films, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented element to the story. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men that, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What were Washington planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "Why do people detest each other and go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that people have the potential to be allies or else can become complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is striking about this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, people around the world could watch almost in real time while it crept towards catastrophe. Even so, the threat of annihilation came closer than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've destroyed the naval vessels and sunk America's primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days in October, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Nina learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Subsequently, though, that view was not shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact 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 hope.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is a shame because we got along really well and we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages are now allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to learn