Following nearly annihilating our planet, our families are allies’: the gripping audio series from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world came closer to ruin more so than ever during the contemporary era. This transpired when an American reconnaissance aircraft identified that Russian nuclear missile installations were being assembled in Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. In response, President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost 14 days of extreme tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat was palpable. If Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a series of worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes would have followed, thrusting civilization toward all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, in books, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a novel dimension to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the figures that, for 13 days, controlled the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Russians thinking? What were Washington considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do nations detest each other and confront one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that individuals can be allies or else can become total enemies," states Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author and attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding this event is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide could watch almost as it happened while it edged closer to disaster. However, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've obliterated our naval vessels as well as sunk our primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when many advisors around them demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which presented a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"We aren't the first," notes Nina. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame because we connected immediately and now we are friends, which is really great. Finally, after nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now allies, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn