Following almost annihilating the world, the relatives have become allies’: the gripping podcast from JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world veered nearer toward destruction more so than ever during modern times. This transpired after an American surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Russian nuclear missile sites were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine encircling the island. What followed constituted nearly 14 days filled with unbearable anxiety.

The Catastrophic Threat

The peril was obvious. Should Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a cascade of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes would have followed, thrusting civilization toward total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, films, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a novel element to the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the figures that, for two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What were Washington thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do nations detest each other and confront each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that individuals can be friends or else can become total enemies," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer and attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally were able to observe almost as it happened as it moved closer to armageddon. Even so, the risk of destruction was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have sunk our naval vessels as well as destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by the sense of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following these events, and Nina learned about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that perspective was not shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of progress.

"We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 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."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn