‘After almost destroying the world, our relatives are allies’: the thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, humanity came nearer to ruin more so than ever in modern times. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Russian atomic missile installations were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted almost two weeks filled with unbearable anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes might have followed, thrusting mankind into all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented extensively, in books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented dimension to the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the figures that, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What was Washington thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the podcast is its attempt to question: "How can nations detest each other to the point they oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that individuals can be friends or else can become complete adversaries," states Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and now a writer and attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is striking regarding this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened as it moved towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have obliterated the aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary fleet. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements around them demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of events.

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

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that view was not held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the first," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades since almost destroying the world, our families are now allies, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to grasp