Following almost destroying our planet, our families are friends’: the thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, humanity veered nearer to destruction than at any other point in the contemporary era. This happened when an American surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Russian nuclear weapon installations were being built 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 the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted almost 14 days filled with unbearable anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained palpable. If Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, thrusting mankind toward all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, in books, films, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented perspective into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the figures that, for two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Russians considering? What was Washington considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "How can people detest each other to the point they confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or can become total adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now a writer and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What’s notable about this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens worldwide could watch almost as it happened while it moved closer to disaster. Even so, the danger of destruction came closer than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with 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've sunk our aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative picture of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly fine or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, though, that view was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so even-handed , expertly crafted that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame because we got along immediately and now we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend