Following almost annihilating the planet, our relatives are friends’: a gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world came nearer toward destruction than at any other point during modern times. This occurred when a US surveillance plane identified that Russian atomic weapon installations were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine around the island. The ensuing period was almost 14 days of extreme anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade of global atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes would have followed, casting humanity toward all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined repeatedly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented perspective into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the men who, for 13 days, held the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What were Washington planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic of global relations.

In her view, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do people detest each other to the point they confront each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that people have the potential to be allies or else can become total enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is notable regarding this event was that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals around the world were able to observe nearly in real time as it edged closer to disaster. Even so, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than most people realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his missiles from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, during those 13 days in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly fine or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that interpretation was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected immediately and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend