Following nearly annihilating our world, our families have become allies’: a thrilling audio series from JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet came closer toward destruction more so than ever during modern times. This happened after a US reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Russian nuclear weapon bases were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK directed a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The next phase was nearly two weeks filled with impossible stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained palpable. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction of global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, thrusting mankind toward total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel element to the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men that, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Russians thinking? What were the United States planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic of global relations.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do people hate one another and go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals can be allies or can become complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently an author and attorney. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it crept closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've sunk the aircraft carriers and destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. 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 both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when everyone around them demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following these events, with Nina learned about it through the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always wonderful and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "They told me what a great occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that perspective would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to learn