Following almost annihilating our planet, our families are friends’: a gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, humanity edged nearer to annihilation than at any other point in the contemporary era. This occurred when a US reconnaissance aircraft found that Russian nuclear missile sites were under construction in Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine around the island. What followed was almost two weeks of extreme tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction of global atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, casting humanity into all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, in volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel dimension to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders that, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Russians considering? What were the American side thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "How can individuals detest one another and go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that humans have the potential to be allies or can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently a writer as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Disaster

What’s notable regarding this event was that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it moved closer to disaster. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have destroyed the naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, during those two weeks in October, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the first," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame since we got along really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils

Or is it? Part of why this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to learn