‘After almost annihilating the planet, the families have become friends’: a gripping podcast featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet edged nearer toward ruin more so than ever during recent history. This happened following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Soviet atomic missile installations were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, President JFK ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine encircling the island. What followed constituted almost two weeks filled with unbearable anxiety.

An Catastrophic Threat

The threat remained palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a cascade involving global nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes would have ensued, thrusting humanity into all-out oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, through volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new element into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the men who, over 13 days, controlled the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Russians considering? What was the American side planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the show is its endeavor to question: "Why do individuals detest one another to the point they confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that humans can be allies or have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly it is to fight."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide could watch nearly in real time as it moved towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have obliterated our naval vessels and destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always wonderful or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, though, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of progress.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to learn