‘After almost destroying the world, the relatives are allies’: the gripping audio series featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world came nearer to annihilation more so than ever in modern times. This happened when an American reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Russian nuclear missile sites were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly two weeks of impossible tension.

The Catastrophic Threat

The threat was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a cascade of global nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes might have followed, plunging humanity toward all-out ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, in books, movies, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new perspective to the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders who, for 13 days, grasped the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What were the American side planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to question: "How can nations detest one another and oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that people can be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently an author as well as lawyer. "We see this over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Disaster

What is remarkable about this event was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people around the world were able to observe almost in real time while it moved closer to disaster. However, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated the naval vessels and sunk America's largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to keep their heads while calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Different Perspective

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about it via the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are always fine or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR 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 symbol of hope.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we once again are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp