Following almost destroying our planet, our relatives have become friends’: the thrilling audio series from JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the planet veered nearer toward ruin more so than ever in recent history. This occurred after an American reconnaissance aircraft identified that Russian atomic weapon sites were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, President JFK commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period was almost a fortnight of unbearable tension.

An Catastrophic Threat

The danger remained clear. If Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a cascade of global atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes might have followed, casting humanity toward total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented endlessly, through volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men that, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What was the American side thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do individuals detest each other and oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that people can be friends or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What is remarkable about this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people globally could watch nearly as it happened as it edged towards catastrophe. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated the naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them was pushing for military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative picture of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly wonderful and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that view would not be held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of progress.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now allies, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Perils

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to learn