‘After nearly destroying our world, the families have become friends’: the thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the world came closer toward annihilation more so than ever in modern times. This transpired following the discovery that a US surveillance plane discovered the fact that Russian nuclear weapon sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The next phase constituted nearly a fortnight of extreme stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The peril was obvious. If Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a cascade involving worldwide nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, casting mankind into all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in volumes, movies, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a completely new element into the story. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the men who, for two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin considering? What were Washington considering?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "How can individuals hate each other and confront each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that individuals can be friends or have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded so publicly, people globally could watch nearly in real time as it crept closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would've obliterated the aircraft carriers and sunk our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that interpretation was not held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of America and USSR would appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Perils

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp