Following nearly annihilating our planet, the relatives have become friends’: a thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the world veered nearer to ruin than at any other point in recent history. This happened after an American surveillance aircraft found the fact that Soviet nuclear missile installations were being built on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The next phase was nearly 14 days filled with extreme stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a cascade involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging mankind toward all-out oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered extensively, in books, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought an unprecedented perspective into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the figures that, for two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What was Washington planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate each other and confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or else can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals around the world were able to observe almost as it happened while it moved closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction came closer than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly wonderful and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that interpretation was not held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so balanced and well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families are now allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn