‘After almost destroying our world, our families have become allies’: the thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, humanity edged closer to annihilation than at any other point in recent history. This occurred when a US surveillance aircraft discovered that Soviet atomic missile sites were being assembled on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted nearly a fortnight filled with unbearable stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat was palpable. If President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a cascade of global atomic attacks and counterstrikes might have ensued, casting civilization toward all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, through books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents an unprecedented dimension into the story. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the figures who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What was the United States considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "How can people detest one another to the point they confront one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that people can be friends or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently a writer as well as attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding this event was that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals globally were able to observe nearly in real time as it crept closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction came closer than most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would've destroyed the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's primary naval force. In turn, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the fear was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different picture of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most significant thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and USSR to appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of hope.

"We aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame since we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our families have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp