Following nearly annihilating our planet, the families have become friends’: the gripping audio series featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet came nearer toward ruin than at any other point during modern times. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic weapon bases were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period was nearly two weeks filled with extreme anxiety.

An Catastrophic Threat

The danger remained clear. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a cascade of global atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes might have followed, thrusting mankind toward all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new perspective to the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men that, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What was the United States thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "How can individuals detest each other to the point they confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that people can be friends or have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently a writer and lawyer. "We see this over and over when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Disaster

What’s notable about this event was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens around the world could watch nearly in real time while it crept closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy when everyone around them were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his missiles based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina learned about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, though, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most significant aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and the USSR would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"We aren't the first," smiles Nina. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and we are friends, which is really great. Finally, following almost six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is that we now are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp