Following almost destroying our world, the relatives have become friends’: the thrilling audio series from JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, humanity came closer toward annihilation than at any other point during the contemporary era. This transpired when an American reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Russian atomic weapon installations were being built in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a naval blockade around the island. What followed was nearly a fortnight filled with impossible tension.

An Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a chain reaction of global nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes would have ensued, thrusting mankind into total destruction.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, in volumes, films, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a novel perspective into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men that, for two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin considering? What were the United States planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do nations hate one another and oppose each other?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that humans can be allies or else can become total enemies," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "We see this over and over when nations have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Disaster

What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time while it edged closer to armageddon. Even so, the threat of annihilation came closer than what anybody realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've sunk the naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when everyone around them were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American missiles based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative narrative of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are always wonderful or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and the USSR to appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of hope.

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

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp