Following almost destroying our planet, our relatives are allies’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, humanity veered closer toward ruin than at any other point in the contemporary era. This transpired after an American reconnaissance plane discovered that Russian nuclear missile installations were under construction in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a naval blockade encircling the island. What followed was almost 14 days filled with extreme stress.

An Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, casting humanity into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined extensively, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new element to the story. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men that, for 13 days, controlled the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What were the United States thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "How can individuals detest one another to the point they oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that humans have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this over and over when countries have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to fight."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens around the world could watch almost in real time as it moved closer to armageddon. However, the threat of annihilation came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated our naval vessels and sunk America's largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy when everyone around them were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about it via the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different version of events.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that view would not be held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most significant aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate because we got along really well and we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn