‘After nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies’: the gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, humanity came nearer toward ruin more so than ever in recent history. This occurred following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Russian atomic weapon installations were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period was almost a fortnight of extreme anxiety.

An Catastrophic Threat

The threat remained obvious. If Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes and counterstrikes would have ensued, thrusting mankind into all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented perspective into the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men who, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Russians thinking? What were the American side planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do people hate each other to the point they confront one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or can become total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to fight."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens around the world were able to observe nearly in real time while it crept closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have sunk the naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different version of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided the war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and USSR to appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils

Or is it? One reason why this series feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to grasp