‘After nearly annihilating our world, the relatives are friends’: the thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the world came nearer toward annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine around the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly 14 days of extreme stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The danger was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a series of global nuclear strikes and counterstrikes could have followed, thrusting mankind into total oblivion.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, in volumes, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a novel element into the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders who, over 13 days, controlled the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What were the American side considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can nations hate one another to the point they confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that individuals can be friends or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently an author and attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s notable regarding this event was that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens worldwide were able to observe almost as it happened as it moved closer to catastrophe. However, the risk of destruction was more imminent than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed the naval vessels and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different picture of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn