Following almost annihilating the world, our relatives are friends’: the thrilling audio series featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet veered nearer to destruction more so than ever during recent history. This transpired after a US surveillance plane found that Russian atomic missile installations were under construction in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling the island. What followed was nearly two weeks of extreme stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained clear. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a series involving worldwide nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, casting civilization into total oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined extensively, in books, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents an unprecedented dimension into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders who, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What was Washington thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do nations hate each other to the point they oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular it is that people can be allies or can become complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and now an author and lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals globally could watch nearly in real time while it edged closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of destruction came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've destroyed our aircraft carriers and destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have responded with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following the crisis, with Nina learned about it via the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that view was not held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced , well produced so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and the USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of progress.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to grasp