Following almost annihilating the planet, our families are allies’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, humanity edged nearer toward destruction than at any other point in modern times. This occurred when an American surveillance plane identified the fact that Russian atomic weapon bases were under construction in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade encircling the island. The next phase constituted almost a fortnight filled with extreme anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series of global atomic strikes and counterstrikes could have ensued, plunging civilization toward all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined extensively, in books, films, and television programmes. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel dimension to the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders that, for 13 days, held the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What were the United States thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

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

"I am acutely aware how spectacular it is that people have the potential to be friends or can become complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and now a writer and lawyer. "We see this over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Disaster

What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens globally could watch nearly in real time while it moved towards armageddon. However, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would've destroyed the naval vessels and sunk America's primary naval force. In turn, we would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them were advocating action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, 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 avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of progress.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is a shame because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn