Following almost destroying our world, our families have become allies’: a thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, humanity edged closer to annihilation than at any other point in the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft found the fact that Soviet nuclear missile installations were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine encircling the island. What followed was nearly two weeks of extreme anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The peril was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction of global nuclear strikes and counterstrikes could have followed, thrusting mankind toward total ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, in volumes, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a completely new element to the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the figures who, over 13 days, held the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Russians planning? What was Washington planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show is its attempt to explore: "Why do people hate one another to the point they go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that people can be friends or have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and now a writer and attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to fight."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about this event is that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals around the world could watch almost as it happened as it edged closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have obliterated the aircraft carriers and sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his missiles from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine and sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Later on, however, that interpretation was not shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so balanced , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we connected really well and we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become allies, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Perils

Or is it? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp