Following almost annihilating our world, our relatives are friends’: the thrilling audio series from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, humanity edged closer toward destruction more so than ever in recent history. This occurred after a US surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Russian atomic weapon sites were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine around the island. What followed constituted nearly two weeks filled with extreme anxiety.

The Catastrophic Threat

The peril was obvious. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a series involving worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes would have followed, thrusting civilization toward total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered endlessly, through books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders who, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What was the American side thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do nations hate each other to the point they go against each other?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that humans can be friends or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author and attorney. "We see this over and over when nations have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people around the world were able to observe almost as it happened while it crept towards catastrophe. However, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have sunk the naval vessels as well as sunk our primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements around them were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Perspective

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about it via the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of progress.

"We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we connected immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to grasp