Following nearly destroying our world, our families have become allies’: a thrilling audio series from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world veered nearer to ruin more so than ever during modern times. This transpired following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane identified that Soviet atomic missile sites were under construction on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to impose a naval blockade around Cuba. What followed was almost 14 days filled with extreme tension.

An Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a series involving worldwide nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes could have followed, plunging mankind into all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought an unprecedented perspective to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the men who, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Russians planning? What were Washington considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can individuals hate one another to the point they go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that humans have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and now an author as well as attorney. "We see this over and over when countries enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally were able to observe nearly in real time while it edged towards armageddon. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've destroyed the aircraft carriers and sunk America's largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them were advocating action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of hope.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, following almost 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Current Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is that we now are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend