Following nearly annihilating our world, the relatives are friends’: the gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the world veered nearer toward annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This happened following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Soviet nuclear missile bases were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine encircling the island. What followed was almost two weeks filled with unbearable stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained palpable. Should President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade involving worldwide atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, plunging humanity toward total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented extensively, through volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel element to the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders who, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Russians considering? What were Washington thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can people hate each other to the point they confront one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that humans can be friends or else can become total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Disaster

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired so publicly, citizens globally were able to observe almost as it happened as it crept closer to disaster. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have sunk the naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly wonderful or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of progress.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend