‘After nearly destroying our planet, the relatives have become allies’: the thrilling audio series featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, humanity came closer toward destruction more so than ever in modern times. This transpired when a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were being built on Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine encircling the island. What followed was almost 14 days of impossible tension.

The Unthinkable Danger

The peril was clear. Should President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a chain reaction of global nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes could have followed, casting mankind toward total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents an unprecedented dimension into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures who, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of humanity in their hands.

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

For her, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "How can people hate each other to the point they oppose each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be allies or can become total adversaries," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when nations have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is remarkable about this event was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide were able to observe almost in real time as it crept towards disaster. However, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than what most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have obliterated the aircraft carriers and sunk our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after these events, with Nina learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Subsequently, 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 didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 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 Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to learn