Following nearly destroying the planet, the families are allies’: the thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the planet came nearer toward ruin more so than ever during recent history. This transpired after a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Russian atomic weapon bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period was nearly a fortnight filled with impossible stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The peril was clear. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a series of worldwide nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, thrusting civilization into all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces an unprecedented dimension into the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men who, for 13 days, grasped the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What was Washington thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can individuals hate one another and confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that people have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "We see this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s striking regarding this event was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens globally could watch almost as it happened as it edged towards catastrophe. Even so, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would've destroyed the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's primary fleet. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days in October, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly fine or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become friends, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series seems so urgent is that we now are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp