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

In the month of October 1962, humanity edged closer toward annihilation than at any other point during the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet atomic missile bases were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade encircling the island. The next phase constituted almost 14 days of extreme tension.

An Catastrophic Danger

The threat remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a cascade of global atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, casting humanity into all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces an unprecedented perspective to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the men who, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What was the American side planning?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do people detest each other to the point they confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that people can be friends or else have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired so publicly, people globally could watch nearly in real time while it edged towards disaster. Even so, the danger of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have sunk our naval vessels and destroyed America's primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments was pushing for military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, for those 13 days in October, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly fine or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Later on, however, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is a shame because we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following almost six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend