Following almost annihilating the planet, the families are allies’: the thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, humanity came closer toward ruin more so than ever in recent history. This occurred after a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Russian nuclear missile bases were being assembled on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to enact a naval blockade encircling Cuba. What followed constituted almost a fortnight of extreme anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained clear. Should Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series involving global atomic strikes and counterstrikes would have ensued, thrusting civilization toward total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented extensively, through books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented element into the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the figures who, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Russians planning? What was the United States considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do people hate each other and oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that individuals can be allies or can become complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What is remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide could watch nearly in real time as it crept towards armageddon. However, the threat of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've destroyed the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by the sense of hope.

A Different Perspective

Still, during those two weeks in October, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Nina learned about it via the Soviet education system, which portrayed an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly wonderful and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most significant thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our families are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to comprehend