Following nearly destroying our world, the relatives are allies’: the thrilling podcast from JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet veered closer toward ruin more so than ever in modern times. This transpired after an American reconnaissance plane found that Russian atomic weapon bases were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. In response, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling the island. The next phase was almost 14 days of extreme stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The threat was obvious. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes could have followed, thrusting mankind into total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered extensively, in volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new element to the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders who, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What were the American side thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do individuals detest each other and oppose each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or can become complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author and lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about this event was that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens around the world could watch almost in real time while it crept towards disaster. However, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than what most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have sunk the naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of hope.

A Different Perspective

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Nina learned about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative narrative of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly wonderful or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Subsequently, though, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, in part, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of progress.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is a shame because we got along immediately and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years since almost destroying the world, our families are now friends, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Present Perils

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend