Following nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies’: the thrilling audio series from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet came nearer toward destruction more so than ever in recent history. This occurred after an American surveillance aircraft discovered that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade around the island. The next phase constituted almost a fortnight filled with impossible tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The peril remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic attacks and counterstrikes might have followed, plunging humanity into all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, through volumes, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel dimension into the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders who, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Russians considering? What was the American side planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its endeavor to question: "How can people hate one another and go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be complete enemies," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over when nations enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time as it edged towards disaster. Even so, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than most people realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have sunk our naval vessels and destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Nina learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, due to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"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 Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame since we connected really well and we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to grasp