‘After almost destroying our world, the families have become friends’: the gripping audio series featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet came nearer to ruin more so than ever during modern times. This transpired following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane found the fact that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being built in Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine around the island. What followed constituted almost two weeks filled with impossible tension.

An Unthinkable Threat

The peril was clear. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes might have followed, thrusting humanity into all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, through books, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented dimension into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the men that, for 13 days, held the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What was the American side planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "How can individuals detest each other to the point they go against one another?"

"It struck me how profound it is that humans have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author and attorney. "We see this over and over when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to fight."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired so publicly, people around the world could watch nearly in real time while it crept towards catastrophe. Even so, the threat of annihilation came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would have fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have destroyed the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva learned about it via the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always fine and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view was not shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative 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 got along immediately and we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend