Following almost destroying the world, our families are friends’: a thrilling audio series from JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the planet veered closer to ruin more so than ever during the contemporary era. This happened after an American reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Soviet atomic weapon sites were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a maritime blockade encircling the island. The next phase was almost 14 days filled with impossible anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat was clear. Should Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a series of global atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, plunging civilization into all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel element to the story. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders that, over 13 days, grasped the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What were the American side considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do people detest each other and confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular it is that people can be allies or else can become total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over when nations have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to fight."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened as it moved towards catastrophe. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary fleet. And, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative narrative of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a scary time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly wonderful or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that view was not held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, after nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend