Following almost destroying the world, the families are friends’: the gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, humanity veered closer to annihilation than at any other point during recent history. This transpired when a US reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet atomic weapon installations were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to impose a naval blockade encircling Cuba. What followed constituted nearly 14 days of extreme anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat was clear. If Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide atomic attacks and counterstrikes would have followed, casting humanity into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined repeatedly, in books, movies, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a novel element into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders who, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What was Washington thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can people hate one another and confront each other?"

"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that people can be friends or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to fight."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide could watch almost as it happened while it edged closer to catastrophe. Even so, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've destroyed our naval vessels and sunk America's primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American missiles from Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, and Nina learned about it through the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly wonderful and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "I was informed what a great moment it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that perspective was not shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced , well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of America and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame since we connected really well and we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp