‘After almost annihilating the world, the families have become friends’: the thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world came nearer toward annihilation than at any other point during modern times. This occurred when an American surveillance aircraft discovered that Soviet nuclear weapon installations were being assembled in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a naval blockade around the island. What followed constituted almost two weeks of impossible stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained clear. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes might have followed, thrusting mankind toward all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined repeatedly, through books, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents an unprecedented element to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders who, over 13 days, grasped the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What were the United States planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do people detest each other and oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that humans can be allies or have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened as it crept towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation came closer than what anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've obliterated our naval vessels as well as destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them demanded military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different picture of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly wonderful or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and the USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is that we now are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to learn