Following nearly annihilating our world, the families have become allies’: a thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, humanity came nearer toward ruin more so than ever in recent history. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance plane discovered that Russian atomic weapon sites were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period was nearly a fortnight of impossible tension.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes might have followed, casting civilization into all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, in books, films, and television programmes. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the men that, for 13 days, grasped the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What were the American side planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can people detest one another and oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that individuals can be allies or can become complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Disaster

What is notable about this event is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally were able to observe nearly in real time as it crept closer to catastrophe. However, the risk of destruction came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would have destroyed the aircraft carriers as well as sunk our primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following these events, and Nina learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always fine and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided the war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is a shame because we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp