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

In the month of October 1962, the world veered nearer to ruin more so than ever in modern times. This happened when a US reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being built in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to enact a maritime blockade around the island. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days filled with impossible anxiety.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a cascade of global atomic strikes and counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging civilization toward total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented endlessly, through volumes, movies, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented dimension into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders who, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Russians considering? What was Washington planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can people detest each other to the point they confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that humans can be allies or have the potential to be complete enemies," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to fight."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What’s striking regarding this event was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens globally could watch nearly as it happened while it crept towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk our naval vessels and sunk America's primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, during those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Nina learned about it via the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that perspective would not be shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most significant aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is a shame because we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to learn