Following almost annihilating the planet, our relatives have become friends’: a thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, humanity edged nearer to ruin than at any other point in modern times. This happened following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft discovered that Russian atomic weapon bases were under construction on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine around Cuba. The next phase constituted almost two weeks of unbearable tension.

An Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a series involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, thrusting mankind toward all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented repeatedly, through volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents an unprecedented dimension into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders that, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Russians planning? What was Washington considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its attempt to question: "Why do people detest each other to the point they oppose one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that humans have the potential to be allies or else can become total adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

A Precipice of Disaster

What is striking about this event is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide could watch nearly in real time as it moved closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the risk of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated the aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative version of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that view was not held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and well produced that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of hope.

"We are not the first," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades since almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Perils

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend