Following nearly destroying our planet, our families are allies’: the thrilling audio series featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world veered nearer toward ruin more so than ever in recent history. This occurred when a US reconnaissance plane found that Russian atomic weapon bases were being assembled on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost two weeks filled with extreme anxiety.

An Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a cascade of global atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, casting mankind into total oblivion.

The October crisis has been covered extensively, through volumes, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought an unprecedented dimension to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the men who, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What was Washington thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can nations hate each other and oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that people can be friends or have the potential to be complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author and lawyer. "We see this over and over when nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to fight."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is notable about this event was that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens globally were able to observe almost in real time while it moved closer to catastrophe. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have sunk our aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments demanded action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his missiles based in Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about it via the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always wonderful and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and USSR would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we connected really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to learn