Following nearly destroying the world, the families have become allies’: the gripping audio series from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, humanity veered closer toward destruction than at any other point in the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance plane discovered the fact that Russian atomic weapon bases were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine around the island. What followed constituted nearly two weeks of unbearable tension.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a cascade involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, plunging humanity into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, in volumes, films, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces an unprecedented perspective to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the men that, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

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

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate each other and oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that people can be allies or have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable regarding this event was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world could watch almost as it happened while it moved closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation came closer than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have sunk the naval vessels and sunk our largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Perspective

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which presented a slightly different picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that view was not shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, due to contributions from historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States 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, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and we’re friends, something that is really great. Finally, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become allies, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp