‘After nearly annihilating the planet, the relatives are friends’: the gripping audio series from JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the planet edged closer to annihilation than at any other point in modern times. This transpired when an American reconnaissance aircraft found that Soviet nuclear weapon installations were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost two weeks of unbearable tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The peril was clear. If President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade involving worldwide nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes would have followed, thrusting humanity into total destruction.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, in books, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a completely new perspective into the story. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men that, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What was the American side planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can nations hate one another and confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be friends or can become total enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently an author and attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to fight."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What’s notable regarding this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens worldwide could watch nearly as it happened as it crept closer to disaster. However, the danger of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would've deployed a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk the naval vessels as well as destroyed our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur 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. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was the sense of hope.

The Different Perspective

Still, during those 13 days in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, with Nina being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are always wonderful and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided the war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. 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 aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is because 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 world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn