‘After almost annihilating our planet, the families have become allies’: a thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, humanity veered nearer toward annihilation than at any other point during recent history. This occurred after a US surveillance aircraft discovered that Russian atomic weapon bases were under construction on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly two weeks filled with extreme tension.

An Catastrophic Threat

The threat remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a cascade of worldwide atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, plunging humanity into total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, in volumes, movies, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a completely new dimension to the story. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders that, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What was the United States thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people detest one another and oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that people can be allies or have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding this event was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it moved closer to armageddon. However, the threat of annihilation came closer than most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have sunk our naval vessels and sunk America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented an alternative picture of events.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, though, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant thing is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following almost 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend