Following nearly destroying the planet, the families have become allies’: the thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, humanity edged nearer toward destruction more so than ever during modern times. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon installations were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. What followed constituted nearly two weeks of impossible tension.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a series involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, thrusting mankind into total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, through books, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new element to the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men that, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Russians considering? What was Washington thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can nations hate each other and oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or else can become complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Disaster

What’s notable regarding this event was that, because it transpired so publicly, people around the world were able to observe almost as it happened while it edged closer to disaster. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of America and 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 hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we connected really well and we’re friends, something that is really great. Finally, following nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is because we now are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp