Following nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends’: a gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet came closer to ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This transpired after an American surveillance plane discovered that Soviet nuclear weapon installations were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly a fortnight filled with unbearable tension.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained palpable. If Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a cascade involving global atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, thrusting civilization into total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered extensively, through books, films, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a novel perspective to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the figures that, over two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What were the American side thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show is its attempt to explore: "Why do people hate one another to the point they confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over when nations have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What is remarkable about this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened while it moved closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would've destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important fleet. And, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that view was not shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn