‘After almost destroying our world, the relatives have become friends’: a thrilling audio series featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the world edged closer to ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane found the fact that Russian atomic missile sites were being assembled in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, President JFK directed a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The next phase constituted nearly a fortnight filled with extreme anxiety.

An Catastrophic Threat

The threat was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a cascade involving worldwide atomic strikes and counterstrikes could have followed, casting mankind into total oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, in books, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces an unprecedented element to the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures who, for two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What was the American side planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic of international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "Why do individuals hate each other and go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that humans can be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Disaster

What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally could watch nearly as it happened while it edged towards armageddon. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what most people realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have sunk our aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always wonderful or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, which was a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of America and USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame because we connected immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp