Following almost destroying the planet, the relatives are allies’: the thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the world edged nearer to ruin more so than ever during the contemporary era. This happened when an American surveillance plane identified the fact that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being built on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period was nearly two weeks filled with extreme tension.

An Unthinkable Danger

The peril was obvious. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series of worldwide nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging civilization into all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, in volumes, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented element to the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders who, for 13 days, held the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What were the United States thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "Why do individuals hate one another to the point they confront one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that people can be friends or else have the potential to be total enemies," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now an author as well as attorney. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s striking regarding this event was that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals globally were able to observe nearly in real time as it edged towards disaster. However, the danger of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have sunk the aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, who managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American missiles from Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always wonderful and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, though, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of America and the USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame because we connected really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Present Perils

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