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

In October 1962, humanity veered nearer toward destruction more so than ever during modern times. This happened after an American surveillance plane discovered that Russian atomic weapon sites were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine around Cuba. What followed was almost two weeks of unbearable stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The peril was obvious. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a series involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes would have followed, thrusting mankind toward all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered endlessly, in books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a completely new dimension into the story. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures who, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Russians thinking? What were Washington considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic of global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its endeavor to explore: "Why do individuals detest each other to the point they oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that people can be allies or else can become total enemies," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "History shows this over and over when countries have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide could watch almost in real time while it moved closer to armageddon. However, the danger of annihilation came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have fired a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed our aircraft carriers and sunk our primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are always wonderful or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided the war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that interpretation was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, due to contributions from historians. But, really, the most momentous aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of progress.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame because we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp