Following almost destroying the world, the relatives are friends’: a thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the world edged nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This transpired after a US surveillance plane found that Russian nuclear missile bases were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade encircling the island. The next phase was nearly two weeks of unbearable stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat was palpable. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction of global nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, thrusting civilization into total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, through volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces an unprecedented perspective to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin thinking? What were Washington considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic of international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "How can individuals detest each other and oppose each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that people have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s notable about this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people around the world could watch almost in real time as it moved closer to armageddon. However, the threat of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have obliterated the aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have responded through massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Nina learned about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative version of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided the war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Later on, though, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we got along immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp