‘After nearly destroying the world, our families are allies’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity edged closer toward ruin than at any other point in modern times. This transpired following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane identified that Soviet nuclear weapon installations were under construction on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period constituted almost 14 days filled with impossible stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger was clear. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a series involving global nuclear strikes and counterstrikes might have followed, casting humanity toward total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented extensively, in volumes, films, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a completely new dimension to the story. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders that, for two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What were the American side planning?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate each other and oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that people can be allies or can become complete enemies," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time while it edged towards catastrophe. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've destroyed our aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments was pushing for military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly wonderful or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and the USSR would 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 aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame since we got along really well and we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our families are now friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend