Following nearly annihilating our world, the relatives have become friends’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the planet veered nearer to ruin more so than ever during the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance plane identified that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were being assembled in Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly a fortnight of extreme tension.

An Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained clear. Should Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a series involving global nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes would have followed, thrusting mankind into total ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined repeatedly, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought an unprecedented dimension into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures who, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Russians thinking? What was Washington thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do people hate each other and confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now an author and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens around the world could watch almost as it happened while it moved towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of destruction came closer than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've destroyed the aircraft carriers and sunk our primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when many advisors around them was pushing for military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Nina learned about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly fine and positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that view would not be held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We are not the first," smiles Nina. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of why this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend