‘After nearly destroying the world, the relatives have become allies’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet came closer toward annihilation than at any other point in the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being assembled on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine encircling the island. The next phase constituted almost two weeks of extreme stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a series of global atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, casting mankind into total oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, through volumes, films, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel element into the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men that, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Russians thinking? What were the American side thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to question: "How can nations detest one another to the point they go against one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded so publicly, people globally could watch almost as it happened while it moved towards catastrophe. Even so, the danger of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, during those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly wonderful or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive thing," she continues. Later on, however, that view would not be held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of hope.

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

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is because we once again are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp