Following nearly annihilating our world, the relatives are friends’: the thrilling audio series from JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world edged nearer to annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This happened following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Russian atomic weapon sites were being built on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK directed a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted almost two weeks filled with extreme tension.

An Unthinkable Threat

The peril was obvious. If President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a cascade involving worldwide atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, casting mankind toward all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents an unprecedented perspective to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders that, for 13 days, grasped the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin considering? What was the United States thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do nations detest each other and go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that humans can be allies or else can become total adversaries," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded so publicly, people around the world were able to observe nearly in real time while it crept towards disaster. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've destroyed the naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days in October, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Later on, however, that view would not be held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and well produced that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame because we connected immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend