Following nearly annihilating our planet, the relatives have become allies’: a thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the planet veered closer to annihilation than at any other point in the contemporary era. This occurred when a US reconnaissance aircraft found that Soviet nuclear missile installations were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The next phase constituted nearly two weeks filled with unbearable tension.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a cascade of worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes would have followed, thrusting humanity into total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, through volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new perspective into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders that, for 13 days, held the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What were the American side thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the podcast is its attempt to question: "Why do people detest each other and confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author and attorney. "History shows this over and over when countries have gone to war, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Disaster

What’s remarkable about this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens worldwide could watch nearly in real time while it edged closer to catastrophe. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated the naval vessels and sunk America's largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about it through the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is that we now are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp