Following almost destroying the world, the families have become friends’: a gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet veered nearer toward destruction than at any other point during modern times. This happened after a US surveillance aircraft discovered that Russian nuclear missile installations were being assembled in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine encircling the island. What followed constituted almost two weeks filled with extreme tension.

The Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade involving global atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, casting mankind toward total oblivion.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, in books, films, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a completely new dimension into the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures that, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Russians planning? What were the United States considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic of international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do people detest one another to the point they confront each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that humans can be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author and lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over when countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding this event was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens around the world could watch nearly as it happened as it crept towards catastrophe. Even so, the danger of annihilation came closer than what anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have obliterated the naval vessels and destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, for those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative version of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine and positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that view would not be held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and USSR to appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of hope.

"We are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame because we connected really well and we’re friends, something that is really great. Finally, after almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our families have become allies, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend