Following almost destroying the world, our families have become allies’: the thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the planet veered nearer toward ruin than at any other point during recent history. This transpired when a US surveillance aircraft found the fact that Russian nuclear weapon sites were being built on Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period was nearly a fortnight filled with unbearable anxiety.

An Catastrophic Danger

The threat remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a cascade involving global nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes could have followed, casting mankind into all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new dimension into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men who, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What were Washington planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do people hate one another to the point they go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that people have the potential to be allies or else can become complete enemies," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now an author as well as attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable about this event is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time as it moved closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary naval force. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always fine and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that interpretation was not shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "After 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we connected really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly 60 years since almost destroying the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend