Following nearly destroying the world, the families are friends’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, humanity veered nearer to annihilation more so than ever during the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane discovered that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine around the island. The next phase constituted almost 14 days filled with extreme tension.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat was palpable. Should Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a series involving global atomic strikes and counterstrikes could have ensued, plunging mankind toward total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented extensively, through volumes, movies, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented element to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the figures who, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Russians thinking? What was Washington considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do nations detest each other and go against each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable the fact that humans can be friends or have the potential to be total enemies," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable regarding this event is that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals globally could watch nearly as it happened as it edged towards catastrophe. However, the threat of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk our naval vessels as well as destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following these events, with Nina being taught about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different picture of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always wonderful or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, though, that perspective was not held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of America and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We aren't the first," notes Nina. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, following nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Perils

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp