Following almost destroying the planet, our relatives are friends’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, humanity came closer toward annihilation than at any other point in the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that an American surveillance plane identified that Russian nuclear missile installations were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to impose a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase was nearly two weeks of impossible anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a cascade of global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, casting humanity into total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented extensively, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a novel dimension to this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders who, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Russians thinking? What was the American side considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do individuals detest each other and oppose one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this over and over when countries enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Disaster

What is notable about this event was that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals around the world were able to observe nearly in real time while it crept towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction came closer than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when many advisors around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly wonderful and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, though, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of America and USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series seems so urgent is because we once again are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp