‘After almost annihilating our planet, our families have become friends’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet edged nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This transpired when a US reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Soviet nuclear missile bases were being built in Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted nearly a fortnight of unbearable stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic strikes and counterstrikes could have followed, thrusting mankind into all-out oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, through volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a novel element to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the men who, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Russians considering? What was the United States considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor of global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do nations detest one another to the point they oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that humans can be friends or can become total adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now a writer and attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens globally could watch nearly as it happened while it moved closer to catastrophe. Even so, the risk of destruction came closer than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed the naval vessels as well as sunk our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when everyone around them demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about it via the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly fine or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, however, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , well produced that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant thing remains the involvement 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 to appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is a shame because we got along immediately and we are friends, which is really great. Finally, following nearly 60 years since almost destroying the world, our families are now allies, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn