‘After almost annihilating the planet, our families are allies’: a thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, humanity edged closer to destruction than at any other point during recent history. This occurred when an American surveillance plane identified the fact that Soviet atomic weapon sites were under construction on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly two weeks filled with unbearable anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat was clear. If President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a cascade of global nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, casting civilization into all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented dimension into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders that, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What was the United States planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to question: "Why do nations hate one another to the point they confront each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that individuals can be allies or have the potential to be total enemies," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now a writer and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people globally were able to observe almost as it happened while it crept closer to disaster. Even so, the threat of destruction was more imminent than what most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have destroyed the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about it via the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different picture of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that relatives 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 sign of hope.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to learn