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

In October 1962, the world edged closer toward ruin than at any other point in the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon installations were under construction in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost 14 days of impossible anxiety.

The Unthinkable Danger

The danger remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a cascade of worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes could have ensued, casting mankind into all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in volumes, films, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a completely new element to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders who, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What were Washington considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its attempt to question: "Why do individuals hate each other to the point they confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that humans have the potential to be friends or can become complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer and lawyer. "We see this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What is remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals worldwide could watch nearly in real time as it edged closer to armageddon. Even so, the danger of annihilation came closer than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have destroyed the naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks in October, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Nina being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always fine or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of America 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 hope.

"We are not the first," notes 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. "That is a shame because we connected really well and now we’re friends, something that is really great. Finally, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to learn