Following nearly annihilating the world, our relatives have become friends’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the planet edged closer toward destruction than at any other point during modern times. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet atomic missile installations were being built on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. What followed constituted almost a fortnight of impossible tension.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger remained clear. If President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction of global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, casting humanity into all-out ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, in books, movies, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel perspective into the story. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the men who, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What were the United States planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "How can people detest one another and oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that individuals can be friends or have the potential to be total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is notable about this event was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide could watch nearly in real time as it moved closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation came closer than what anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would have obliterated the aircraft carriers and destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that view was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of hope.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate because we connected really well and we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Present Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to learn