Following nearly destroying the planet, our families have become friends’: a thrilling audio series from JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity came closer to ruin than at any other point during the contemporary era. This occurred after an American surveillance plane discovered the fact that Russian nuclear missile installations were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade around the island. The next phase was almost a fortnight of extreme stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The threat was palpable. If Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a series of global nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have followed, casting mankind toward total ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered endlessly, through volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a novel perspective to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures who, over two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Russians planning? What was Washington planning?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the show lies in its attempt to question: "How can individuals hate each other to the point they oppose each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable the fact that people have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s striking about this event was that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals globally could watch nearly in real time while it edged towards disaster. However, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what most people realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted a military strike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed the naval vessels as well as destroyed America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative picture of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that relatives 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 be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend