‘After nearly destroying our planet, the relatives are friends’: a gripping audio series from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet veered closer to ruin than at any other point during modern times. This happened when a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase was almost a fortnight of unbearable anxiety.

An Catastrophic Threat

The threat remained obvious. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, thrusting humanity toward all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, in books, movies, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the 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, family members of the men that, over 13 days, grasped the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What was Washington thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "How can nations hate each other to the point they go against one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that humans have the potential to be allies or can become complete enemies," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and now an author and lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s striking about this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens globally could watch almost in real time while it moved towards disaster. However, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, though, that view was not held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for relatives 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 symbol of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades since almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to learn