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

During October 1962, the planet edged nearer toward annihilation more so than ever in modern times. This happened after a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet atomic missile bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. In response, President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine encircling the island. What followed was nearly 14 days of extreme anxiety.

An Catastrophic Threat

The peril remained obvious. Should President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a series of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, thrusting civilization into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, in volumes, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders who, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What was the American side planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show is its endeavor to question: "How can people hate one another and oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that humans have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now an author as well as attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What’s striking regarding this event is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world were able to observe almost as it happened while it moved towards catastrophe. Even so, the risk of destruction came closer than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated our naval vessels as well as destroyed America's primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about it via the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different picture of events.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that view would not be held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

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

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades of almost destroying the world, our families are now allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Present Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend