Following nearly annihilating our planet, our relatives have become friends’: a thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the world came closer toward ruin than at any other point during the contemporary era. This transpired after an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian nuclear missile sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days of extreme tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat remained obvious. If Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic attacks and counterstrikes would have followed, thrusting humanity toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been covered repeatedly, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a completely new perspective into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders that, over 13 days, held the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What was the American side considering?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to question: "Why do individuals hate one another and oppose one another?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that people can be friends or have the potential to be total enemies," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Disaster

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens worldwide were able to observe almost in real time as it edged towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've obliterated our naval vessels as well as destroyed our primary naval force. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when everyone around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that view was not shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is a shame because we connected immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our families have become allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Present Perils

Or is it? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend