‘After nearly annihilating our world, the relatives are friends’: a gripping audio series featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world edged nearer toward ruin more so than ever in recent history. This occurred after a US reconnaissance aircraft found that Soviet atomic weapon sites were under construction on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President JFK ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. What followed was almost 14 days filled with impossible tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat remained clear. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a cascade of global atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging civilization toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, through books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a completely new dimension to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men that, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Russians planning? What was Washington thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can individuals hate each other and go against each other?"

"It struck me how profound it is that humans can be allies or else can become total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently a writer as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people globally could watch nearly in real time as it moved closer to catastrophe. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have sunk our naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation which would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, during those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following the crisis, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative picture of events.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are always wonderful or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"We aren't the first," notes Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is a shame since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Current Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to grasp