Following nearly destroying the planet, the relatives have become allies’: the gripping audio series from JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity veered closer toward annihilation than at any other point during the contemporary era. This transpired when an American reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Russian atomic weapon bases were being assembled on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to enact a maritime blockade encircling the island. What followed was almost 14 days filled with unbearable anxiety.

An Catastrophic Threat

The peril was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a cascade involving global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, casting humanity into all-out oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces an unprecedented dimension to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders that, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What were Washington planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "How can individuals hate one another and oppose one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that humans can be friends or else have the potential to be complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is striking regarding this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens around the world could watch almost in real time as it crept towards catastrophe. Even so, the risk of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers and sunk our primary naval force. In turn, we would have responded with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Later on, however, that interpretation was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend