Following almost annihilating the world, the relatives have become friends’: a gripping audio series from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the planet came closer to annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This happened when a US surveillance aircraft identified that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were under construction in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, President JFK directed a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade around the island. The next phase was nearly a fortnight filled with extreme stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained clear. If President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a series involving worldwide atomic attacks and counterstrikes could have followed, plunging mankind into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a completely new perspective into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the figures that, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What were the American side planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic of global relations.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "Why do individuals hate one another and oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that humans can be friends or else can become total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over when countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable about this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens worldwide could watch almost as it happened as it moved towards catastrophe. Even so, the threat of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk our primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, for those 13 days in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always wonderful and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, though, that view was not shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced , well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to learn