‘After nearly annihilating our planet, our relatives are friends’: a gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, humanity veered nearer to ruin than at any other point during recent history. This occurred after a US reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Soviet atomic missile sites were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period was almost 14 days of impossible tension.

An Catastrophic Threat

The danger was palpable. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a cascade involving global nuclear strikes and counterstrikes might have followed, thrusting mankind into all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented element into the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men that, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin considering? What were Washington considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people hate one another to the point they confront one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable the fact that humans can be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding this event was that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals globally were able to observe almost in real time as it moved towards catastrophe. Even so, the threat of annihilation came closer than most people realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of events.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided the war, which was a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that interpretation was not 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 the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb 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, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend