Following nearly destroying our world, our relatives have become friends’: a thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity edged closer toward destruction more so than ever during modern times. This happened when a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK ordered a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The next phase was almost a fortnight filled with impossible anxiety.

An Catastrophic Danger

The threat was palpable. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade involving global nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, casting mankind into all-out ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel perspective into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men who, over 13 days, controlled the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Russians thinking? What were the United States thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "Why do individuals hate one another and confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that people can be allies or have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer and attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What is remarkable about this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals around the world could watch nearly in real time while it edged closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've sunk our naval vessels and destroyed America's primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always wonderful and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and USSR would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 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," adds Max. "Which is a shame because we connected really well and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of why this series feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to comprehend