‘After almost annihilating the world, the families have become friends’: the thrilling audio series featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet came closer to annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened after an American reconnaissance plane found that Russian atomic missile sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost two weeks of extreme stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, thrusting civilization into total ruination.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in volumes, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents an unprecedented element into the story. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures that, for 13 days, controlled the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What were Washington thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor of global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do nations detest each other to the point they oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be total enemies," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Disaster

What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally could watch nearly in real time as it crept towards armageddon. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have destroyed our aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary naval force. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most momentous thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We 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."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame because we connected really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Perils

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend