‘After almost destroying the planet, our relatives are friends’: the thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the planet edged nearer to ruin than at any other point in recent history. This occurred following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft found that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost 14 days of extreme tension.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger was obvious. If Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes would have ensued, plunging mankind toward all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been covered repeatedly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a completely new element into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures that, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Russians thinking? What were the United States planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do individuals detest each other and oppose one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that people have the potential to be friends or else can become total adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently an author as well as attorney. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it crept closer to catastrophe. However, the threat of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have sunk the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative version of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly fine or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, which was a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of America and the USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we got along really well and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to comprehend