Following almost destroying our planet, our relatives have become allies’: the thrilling audio series featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, humanity came closer toward annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This transpired after a US reconnaissance aircraft identified that Russian atomic missile sites were being built in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade encircling the island. What followed was nearly a fortnight of unbearable stress.

An Catastrophic Danger

The threat remained clear. If President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, casting civilization toward total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered extensively, in books, films, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented dimension into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men who, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What were the United States planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do people hate one another to the point they go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or else can become complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to fight."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable about this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe almost in real time as it moved towards disaster. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would've sunk our naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important fleet. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided the war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, though, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced , well produced that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of hope.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Current Perils

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend