Following nearly annihilating the world, our relatives are friends’: the gripping podcast featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, humanity edged nearer to annihilation than at any other point in modern times. This happened when an American surveillance plane identified that Soviet atomic missile installations were being assembled in Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade encircling Cuba. What followed constituted nearly a fortnight filled with unbearable tension.

The Unthinkable Danger

The danger was clear. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes might have followed, plunging mankind into total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, in books, movies, and television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new perspective to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders who, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What were Washington considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can people detest each other and go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular it is that humans have the potential to be allies or can become total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer and lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it crept towards catastrophe. However, the danger of destruction was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have sunk the aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following these events, and Nina learned about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different picture of events.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a scary time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly fine or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most momentous aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

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

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and now we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Perils

Or is it? Part of why this series seems so urgent is because we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn