Following nearly annihilating the planet, the families have become allies’: a thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world came nearer toward ruin than at any other point during the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane found the fact that Soviet atomic missile bases were under construction on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade around the island. The next phase constituted nearly two weeks filled with unbearable anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained palpable. If Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes could have followed, plunging humanity into total oblivion.

The October crisis has been covered extensively, through books, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a novel dimension into the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men that, for 13 days, held the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Russians considering? What were the United States planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do people detest one another and confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be complete enemies," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently an author and attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Disaster

What’s remarkable about this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens around the world could watch almost in real time while it edged closer to disaster. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what most people realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would've sunk the naval vessels and sunk America's primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly wonderful or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most significant aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

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

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we connected immediately and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend