Following almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends’: a thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world veered closer to ruin than at any other point in modern times. This occurred after a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet nuclear missile sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to establish a naval blockade around the island. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days of extreme tension.

The Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained palpable. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a cascade involving worldwide nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes would have followed, plunging mankind toward all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined extensively, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a novel element into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the men who, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What was Washington planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "How can nations detest one another and oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be friends or can become complete adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s striking about this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people worldwide were able to observe almost in real time while it edged closer to disaster. Even so, the risk of destruction came closer than what anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've sunk our naval vessels and sunk our largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative picture of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great occasion it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , well produced that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We are not the first," notes Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly six decades since almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to learn