‘After almost destroying the world, the families are allies’: a thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the planet came closer to ruin than at any other point in the contemporary era. This transpired when a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Russian atomic missile installations were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted almost two weeks filled with impossible anxiety.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained clear. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, thrusting humanity toward all-out oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, through volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel perspective into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men that, for 13 days, held the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Russians thinking? What were the United States thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can nations detest one another to the point they go against one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that people can be friends or can become complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over when countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, people around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened while it edged towards disaster. However, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would've destroyed the aircraft carriers and sunk our primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them demanded military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative narrative of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that view was not held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , well produced that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend