Following nearly annihilating our planet, our families have become allies’: a thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, humanity came closer to destruction more so than ever in recent history. This happened following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft identified that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being built on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days filled with extreme stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat was clear. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a chain reaction involving global nuclear strikes and counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging humanity into all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, through books, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new dimension to the story. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men that, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Russians considering? What was the United States planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "How can individuals hate each other to the point they oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that humans can be allies or can become total enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to fight."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What is striking about this event is that, because it transpired so publicly, people globally were able to observe nearly in real time as it edged closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would have destroyed the naval vessels and destroyed America's primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are always wonderful and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and USSR would appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is a shame because we connected immediately and we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now friends, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp