‘After almost destroying our world, our relatives are allies’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the planet came closer toward ruin more so than ever during the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance plane found that Soviet nuclear missile installations were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly two weeks of unbearable anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained palpable. If Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a series of global atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes would have followed, plunging mankind into total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a novel dimension to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the figures who, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin considering? What were Washington thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor of international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show is its endeavor to explore: "How can individuals hate one another and confront one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that people can be friends or else have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now an author and attorney. "We see this over and over when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to fight."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens worldwide were able to observe almost as it happened while it edged towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have sunk our aircraft carriers and destroyed our primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, though, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union to 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.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend