‘After nearly annihilating our planet, the families have become friends’: a gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, humanity came closer to ruin more so than ever in recent history. This transpired when an American surveillance plane discovered that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were being assembled in Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine around the island. What followed constituted nearly two weeks filled with impossible anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger was clear. If Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade involving global atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes might have followed, thrusting mankind toward total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, in books, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders who, for 13 days, controlled the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Russians thinking? What was the American side planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic of global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the show is its endeavor to explore: "Why do people detest each other and go against each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or can become complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s remarkable regarding this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, people around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened while it edged closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have obliterated our naval vessels and sunk America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments demanded military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American missiles based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly wonderful or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families are now allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Current Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to comprehend