‘After nearly annihilating the planet, the families have become allies’: the thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity edged nearer toward destruction more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred after a US reconnaissance plane discovered that Soviet atomic missile bases were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. In response, President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine encircling the island. What followed constituted nearly two weeks of extreme tension.

The Unthinkable Danger

The danger remained clear. If Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a chain reaction involving global nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes would have followed, thrusting civilization into total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented extensively, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought an unprecedented element to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the men that, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What were the American side planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic of global relations.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can nations detest each other and confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or else can become complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding this event was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally were able to observe almost as it happened as it crept towards disaster. However, the danger of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk our aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate when everyone around them was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, for those 13 days in October, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But 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 things are constantly wonderful and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from historians. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is because 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 comprehend