‘After nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become friends’: the thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet veered closer toward ruin more so than ever during modern times. This transpired when a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian nuclear weapon sites were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. What followed constituted nearly a fortnight of unbearable tension.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a series involving global atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, casting humanity into total ruination.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, through volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new element into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures who, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What was Washington considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people hate one another to the point they oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or else can become complete adversaries," states Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is notable about this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally could watch almost as it happened while it crept closer to armageddon. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would have destroyed our naval vessels and destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate when many advisors around them was pushing for military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly fine or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of America and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we got along really well and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our families have become allies, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn