Following nearly annihilating the world, the families have become friends’: the gripping audio series from JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the world edged closer to ruin more so than ever in recent history. This transpired after an American surveillance aircraft found the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were being assembled on Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, President JFK directed a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade around the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly a fortnight filled with unbearable stress.

An Catastrophic Danger

The threat was obvious. Should Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a cascade involving worldwide nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, casting mankind into all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, through books, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented element to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men who, for 13 days, held the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin thinking? What was the United States considering?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do people hate each other to the point they oppose each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that people can be friends or else can become total enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s striking regarding this event was that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens around the world could watch almost as it happened while it moved closer to disaster. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have obliterated our aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments was pushing for military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, during those 13 days in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of events.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always fine and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, though, that perspective was not shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn