Following almost annihilating the world, our relatives are friends’: a thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the planet veered nearer toward destruction than at any other point in recent history. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance plane found the fact that Russian nuclear weapon bases were being assembled on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. What followed was nearly 14 days of unbearable tension.

The Catastrophic Threat

The peril remained palpable. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a cascade involving global atomic attacks and counterstrikes might have followed, plunging civilization toward total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, in books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new dimension into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders that, over 13 days, controlled the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What were Washington planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in global relations.

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

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and now an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired so publicly, people globally could watch nearly as it happened as it moved towards disaster. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Still, during those two weeks in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Nina being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative picture of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, however, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "After 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and we’re friends, something that is really great. Finally, after almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now allies, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend