Following nearly destroying the world, our relatives are allies’: the thrilling audio series featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world came closer toward destruction than at any other point in recent history. This occurred following the discovery that an American surveillance plane discovered that Soviet atomic missile bases were being built in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted nearly a fortnight filled with impossible stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat was obvious. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a series of worldwide nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes could have followed, casting humanity into all-out oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented repeatedly, in books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel perspective into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the figures that, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What were the American side thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can nations detest each other to the point they go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that humans can be friends or have the potential to be total enemies," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What’s notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded so publicly, people around the world could watch nearly as it happened as it moved closer to armageddon. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have obliterated the naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always wonderful and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that view was not held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of hope.

"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 became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend