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

During October 1962, the planet veered nearer to ruin more so than ever in modern times. This occurred following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft identified that Russian atomic weapon installations were being assembled in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine encircling the island. What followed constituted almost 14 days filled with impossible stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The peril remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series involving worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes would have followed, thrusting civilization toward all-out oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a completely new dimension to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures that, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What were Washington planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show is its endeavor to question: "Why do people detest one another and go against one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that individuals can be friends or else have the potential to be total adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and now an author and attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to fight."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens globally were able to observe almost in real time while it edged closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would have obliterated our naval vessels and sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are always wonderful or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of progress.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame since we got along immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our families are now allies, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to learn