Following almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends’: a gripping audio series from JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, humanity veered closer to destruction more so than ever in recent history. This transpired following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane found the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine around the island. The ensuing period constituted almost two weeks filled with unbearable stress.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a cascade of global atomic strikes and counterstrikes could have followed, plunging humanity toward total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered endlessly, through books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a completely new dimension to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures who, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Russians thinking? What were the United States planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do individuals detest one another to the point they go against one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or can become total enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Disaster

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired so publicly, people globally could watch almost as it happened while it edged towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have destroyed the naval vessels as well as destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, which was a positive thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view would not be shared by everybody. "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 Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant thing is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Finally, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp