‘After almost annihilating the world, our families have become allies’: the thrilling audio series from JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet came closer to destruction than at any other point during the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane identified that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being built in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to enact a maritime blockade around the island. What followed constituted nearly two weeks filled with extreme stress.

An Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained obvious. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a series involving worldwide nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes might have followed, plunging civilization toward total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented extensively, through volumes, movies, and television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new perspective into the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders that, over 13 days, controlled the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin thinking? What was the American side considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show is its endeavor to question: "Why do people hate each other and oppose each other?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that people can be allies or can become complete enemies," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened as it moved towards disaster. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than what most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would've sunk the naval vessels and destroyed America's primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American missiles based in Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly wonderful and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Subsequently, though, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous thing is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate because we connected really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become friends, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to learn