‘After almost annihilating the planet, our families are allies’: a thrilling audio series from JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the world edged closer toward destruction more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane identified that Russian atomic weapon bases were being assembled in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around the island. What followed was almost a fortnight filled with unbearable stress.

An Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained obvious. If Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade involving global nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, thrusting mankind into total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, in volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a completely new perspective to the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the figures that, over 13 days, held the fate of humanity within their grasp.

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

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "How can nations hate each other and confront each other?"

"It was not lost on 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 a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What is striking about this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people globally could watch almost in real time while it crept closer to disaster. However, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've destroyed the 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 all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American missiles from Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly fine or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, which was a positive thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view was not held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we connected really well and we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp