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

In October 1962, humanity edged nearer to destruction than at any other point in recent history. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft discovered that Soviet atomic missile bases were under construction on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval blockade around Cuba. The next phase was nearly a fortnight filled with extreme stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger was palpable. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, thrusting civilization toward all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined extensively, through volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new element into the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders that, over two tense weeks, held the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What were Washington considering?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can nations hate each other to the point they confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or can become complete adversaries," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author as well as attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What is striking about this event is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world could watch almost as it happened as it edged closer to disaster. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed the naval vessels and sunk our largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was the sense of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Nina learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided the war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that view was not shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union 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.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to learn