Following nearly annihilating our planet, the families have become allies’: the gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the planet edged closer toward destruction than at any other point during the contemporary era. This happened when a US reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear missile bases were being built in Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a naval quarantine around the island. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days of extreme stress.

An Catastrophic Danger

The threat remained obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic attacks and counterstrikes could have ensued, thrusting mankind into total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, through volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces an unprecedented perspective into the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men that, over two tense weeks, held the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What were the American side considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can nations hate one another and confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that people have the potential to be friends or else can become total adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer and attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What’s striking about this event was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens around the world could watch almost in real time as it edged towards armageddon. Even so, the danger of annihilation came closer than most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk the naval vessels and destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly wonderful and sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most momentous thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle 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. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, following almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp