Following almost annihilating our world, the families have become allies’: the gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, humanity veered nearer to ruin than at any other point during the contemporary era. This occurred when a US reconnaissance plane discovered that Soviet nuclear missile installations were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to enact a maritime blockade encircling the island. What followed constituted almost a fortnight of unbearable tension.

An Catastrophic Threat

The peril was obvious. If Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a chain reaction involving global atomic attacks and counterstrikes might have followed, plunging humanity into total ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, through volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel element into the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men who, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Russians considering? What were the United States thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "How can nations hate each other and go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular it is that people can be allies or can become total adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Disaster

What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened as it moved towards armageddon. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary naval force. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following these events, with Nina learned about it via the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to grasp