Following almost annihilating our world, our families have become friends’: a thrilling audio series from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet came nearer toward destruction than at any other point during recent history. This transpired after a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days of unbearable anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The peril remained palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a cascade involving global atomic strikes and counterstrikes could have ensued, thrusting mankind into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, in volumes, movies, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a novel perspective into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men that, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What was the United States thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "How can people detest one another to the point they confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be friends or else can become total enemies," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened as it edged closer to armageddon. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk our naval vessels and sunk America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a scary day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. In the years to come, though, that interpretation was not shared 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 the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we connected really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, after nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend