‘After almost annihilating our planet, the relatives have become friends’: the gripping audio series featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet came nearer to destruction than at any other point in modern times. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft identified that Soviet atomic missile bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime blockade around the island. The next phase was almost a fortnight of extreme anxiety.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger was clear. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a series involving worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes might have followed, casting civilization toward all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been covered extensively, in volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a novel element into the story. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men that, for 13 days, held the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Russians considering? What were Washington considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can nations detest one another to the point they go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that humans can be allies or else can become complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide could watch nearly as it happened while it edged closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the risk of destruction was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've destroyed the aircraft carriers and sunk our largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments demanded military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States 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 with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become allies, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend