Following nearly destroying our planet, our families have become allies’: a thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the world edged closer toward destruction more so than ever during modern times. This transpired when a US surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian nuclear weapon sites were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period was almost 14 days of impossible tension.

The Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a cascade involving global nuclear attacks and counterstrikes could have ensued, thrusting mankind toward all-out oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented endlessly, through books, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents an unprecedented perspective into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders that, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Russians thinking? What was the American side considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do nations detest each other and go against each other?"

"It struck me how profound it is that individuals have the potential to be friends or else can become total enemies," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author and attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Disaster

What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide were able to observe almost in real time as it edged closer to armageddon. Even so, the risk of destruction was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've destroyed the naval vessels as well as destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always wonderful and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, though, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of historians. But, really, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear side by side. 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 hope.

"We are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is a shame because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since almost destroying the world, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp