Following nearly destroying our world, the families are friends’: a gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet came nearer to destruction more so than ever during the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance plane discovered that Russian nuclear missile bases were under construction on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK directed a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period was almost 14 days of unbearable stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger was clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, plunging mankind into total oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented endlessly, in books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces an unprecedented perspective into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders that, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What was Washington considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "Why do nations detest one another and oppose each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," states Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to fight."

The Brink of Disaster

What is remarkable regarding this event was that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens around the world were able to observe almost in real time while it crept towards disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've sunk our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them demanded action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of hope.

The Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which presented a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are always wonderful and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that perspective would not be shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most significant aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our families have become allies, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn