Following nearly destroying the planet, the relatives have become friends’: a gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, humanity veered nearer to destruction than at any other point in recent history. This transpired after an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were being built in Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. What followed constituted almost a fortnight of extreme anxiety.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, thrusting civilization toward all-out oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, in books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new perspective to the story. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men that, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What was the United States considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "How can nations detest one another and oppose each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that humans can be friends or else have the potential to be complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over when nations have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to fight."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What’s notable about this event was that, because it transpired so publicly, people globally could watch almost as it happened while it crept closer to disaster. However, the risk 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 Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have sunk the naval vessels and sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation that would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always wonderful and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. In the years to come, though, that view was not shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of America and USSR to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame because we connected really well and we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn