‘After almost destroying our world, our relatives have become allies’: a thrilling audio series from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet edged closer to annihilation more so than ever during recent history. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance plane discovered that Russian nuclear missile bases were under construction on Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly a fortnight filled with extreme anxiety.

An Catastrophic Danger

The peril was clear. Should President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a series of worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes would have ensued, casting humanity into all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, in books, movies, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a completely new perspective into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the figures who, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What were Washington thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do nations hate one another to the point they confront each other?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that people can be friends or else have the potential to be total adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened as it moved towards disaster. Even so, the threat of annihilation came closer than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would've destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk our primary naval force. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Still, for those 13 days in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always fine and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that view would not be held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and the USSR to appear together publicly. 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 hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, 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 that we once again are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp