‘After almost destroying the world, our families have become allies’: the thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, humanity veered nearer toward ruin more so than ever in recent history. This happened when a US reconnaissance aircraft found that Russian atomic missile bases were being built in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. What followed constituted nearly 14 days of impossible stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat was obvious. If President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series of global atomic attacks and counterstrikes could have ensued, plunging civilization toward all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, through books, films, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a completely new perspective to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the men that, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What were the United States planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "How can people hate one another and oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that people can be allies or have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this over and over when nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What is remarkable regarding this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens around the world could watch almost in real time while it crept closer to disaster. Even so, the risk of destruction came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk the naval vessels as well as destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly fine and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced , well produced that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of hope.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we connected immediately and now we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp