Following nearly destroying our world, the families are allies’: a thrilling audio series featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the planet edged closer to ruin more so than ever in recent history. This transpired after a US reconnaissance plane identified that Soviet nuclear weapon installations were under construction on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine around the island. What followed was nearly two weeks of extreme stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The danger was obvious. If President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade of worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging civilization into total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, through books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel dimension into the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders that, for 13 days, held the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Russians thinking? What were the United States planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do people hate one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that humans have the potential to be friends or can become total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now a writer and attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world could watch almost as it happened while it edged towards catastrophe. Even so, the danger of destruction came closer than what most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would've sunk our naval vessels as well as destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them was pushing for military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American missiles based in Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly fine or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, really, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR to appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our families are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series feels so necessary is that we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp