Following nearly destroying our planet, the families are friends’: the thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the world veered nearer to annihilation than at any other point during recent history. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Soviet atomic missile sites were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to impose a naval blockade around the island. The next phase was nearly 14 days filled with extreme tension.

An Unthinkable Threat

The danger was clear. Should President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a cascade of worldwide nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes could have followed, thrusting humanity toward all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a completely new dimension to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures who, over 13 days, held the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side 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 strength of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do nations detest each other to the point they go against one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that humans can be allies or else can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now a writer and attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to fight."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded so publicly, people worldwide could watch nearly as it happened as it crept closer to armageddon. However, the risk of destruction was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have obliterated our aircraft carriers and sunk America's primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Nina being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful and sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, though, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and USSR would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of why this series feels so necessary is that we now are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn