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

In October 1962, the world came closer toward destruction more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred when a US reconnaissance aircraft identified that Russian nuclear weapon bases were being built in Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine around Cuba. The next phase constituted nearly a fortnight of impossible stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The threat was clear. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a series involving worldwide nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes would have ensued, plunging humanity toward total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented repeatedly, through volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a novel perspective to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders that, over two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Russians planning? What were the American side considering?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor of global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "Why do individuals hate one another and go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be friends or can become complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and now a writer and lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to fight."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What is striking about this event is that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals globally could watch nearly in real time while it edged towards disaster. Even so, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as sunk our primary naval force. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them were advocating action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about it via the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "They told me what a great occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame because we connected really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Perils

Or is it? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp