Following almost annihilating our planet, the families are allies’: the thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the world came closer toward annihilation more so than ever during recent history. This transpired following the discovery that a US surveillance plane discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were being built in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. In response, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a naval blockade around the island. The next phase constituted almost two weeks of impossible anxiety.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained palpable. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a cascade of global atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, casting humanity into all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined repeatedly, through books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a novel perspective into the story. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures that, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Russians considering? What were the United States thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do people hate each other and confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that people have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author and attorney. "We see this repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals globally were able to observe nearly in real time as it crept closer to disaster. However, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would have obliterated our naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, and Nina learned about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly fine or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most significant thing is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of progress.

"We aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son 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 since we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is that we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn