Following nearly destroying our planet, the families are allies’: a gripping podcast featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet came nearer to annihilation than at any other point in modern times. This occurred after an American surveillance plane identified that Russian atomic weapon sites were under construction on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase was almost two weeks of unbearable stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a series involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, plunging humanity toward all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a completely new dimension to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures who, over two tense weeks, held the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin considering? What were the United States planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can nations detest one another and oppose each other?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that individuals can be friends or have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now an author and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is notable about this event was that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe almost as it happened as it crept towards armageddon. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative version of what happened.

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

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most significant aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of progress.

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

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now allies, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Current Perils

Or is it? One reason why this series feels so necessary is because we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend