‘After almost annihilating our world, the relatives have become allies’: a gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the planet came closer toward ruin more so than ever during recent history. This occurred when an American surveillance plane found that Russian nuclear missile installations were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The next phase constituted almost 14 days filled with extreme stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The danger was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes might have followed, casting mankind toward all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, through volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new dimension into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men who, for two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What was Washington planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do individuals hate each other and confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author as well as attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s striking regarding this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened while it moved closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would've obliterated our naval vessels and sunk our primary naval force. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them was pushing for military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, during those 13 days in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Nina learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always fine or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains 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 side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to comprehend