‘After almost destroying the planet, the relatives are allies’: the thrilling audio series featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, humanity came closer toward annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This occurred following the discovery that a US surveillance plane identified that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being assembled in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to enact a maritime blockade around Cuba. The ensuing period was nearly a fortnight of extreme stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a series involving worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging humanity toward total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented extensively, in books, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel element to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the men who, over 13 days, grasped the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Russians thinking? What were Washington planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can individuals hate each other and go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or else can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Disaster

What is remarkable about this event was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time while it moved towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation came closer than most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk the naval vessels as well as destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments demanded military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Different Perspective

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative version of events.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great moment it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that view would not be held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and well produced so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp