Following nearly destroying the planet, the relatives are friends’: the gripping audio series from JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world veered nearer toward annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This transpired when an American surveillance plane found that Soviet atomic missile bases were being assembled on Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval blockade around the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly two weeks filled with impossible anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained palpable. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series involving worldwide atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging civilization toward all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, in books, movies, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new element to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men who, over 13 days, held the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What were the United States planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic of global relations.

For her, the strength of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "How can individuals detest each other and oppose one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable the fact that people have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is remarkable about this event is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world were able to observe almost as it happened while it edged towards disaster. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have destroyed the naval vessels as well as sunk our primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements around them demanded action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Nina learned about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Later on, however, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of progress.

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

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend