‘After nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the world edged nearer to destruction more so than ever during modern times. This happened following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon installations were being assembled on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost a fortnight of impossible stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The peril was obvious. If President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a series of worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes would have followed, plunging humanity toward total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, in books, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new dimension to the story. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men that, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Russians planning? What was Washington considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do nations hate each other and go against each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that individuals can be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently an author and lawyer. "History shows this over and over when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded so publicly, people worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time as it edged closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than what anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated the aircraft carriers and sunk our primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening day," 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 the official line was that everything was constantly fine or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, though, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and Soviet Union to appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now friends, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend