Following nearly annihilating our planet, our relatives are allies’: a thrilling audio series featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the world veered nearer toward annihilation more so than ever in modern times. This happened after an American reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being assembled in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval quarantine around the island. What followed was almost 14 days of impossible anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril was obvious. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction of global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes might have followed, thrusting civilization into all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a completely new perspective into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men who, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What was Washington planning?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate each other to the point they confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that people can be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to fight."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What is notable regarding this event is that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens worldwide were able to observe almost in real time while it crept towards disaster. However, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would've obliterated the naval vessels as well as sunk America's primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always wonderful or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most significant aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "After 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we connected really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp