Following almost destroying the world, the families are friends’: a thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the planet edged nearer to ruin more so than ever during modern times. This occurred following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane found the fact that Russian atomic weapon sites were under construction in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. The next phase was almost a fortnight filled with extreme anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained palpable. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a series involving worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes could have ensued, casting humanity toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, through books, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces an unprecedented perspective to the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men who, for 13 days, held the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin thinking? What were the United States planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "How can people detest each other to the point they confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be total adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world could watch almost in real time while it moved towards catastrophe. Even so, the risk of destruction came closer than most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have destroyed the aircraft carriers and destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva learned about it via the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative picture of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that perspective was not shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from historians. But, really, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"We aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate because we connected really well and now we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, following nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Present Perils

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp