Following nearly destroying the planet, our relatives are allies’: a gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the world came closer toward destruction more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that an American surveillance plane discovered that Russian nuclear weapon installations were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President JFK directed a naval task force to enact a naval blockade around the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly 14 days of extreme anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The peril was palpable. If Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a chain reaction of global nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, casting humanity toward total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined repeatedly, in volumes, films, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a novel element to the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders that, over two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Russians thinking? What were Washington considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor of international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do nations hate one another to the point they go against one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or else can become complete enemies," states Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and now a writer and attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Disaster

What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired so publicly, citizens worldwide were able to observe almost in real time while it edged closer to disaster. However, the threat of destruction came closer than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have sunk the aircraft carriers and destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them demanded military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that perspective would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we got along really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to learn