Following almost destroying our planet, the families have become allies’: a gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity veered nearer toward ruin than at any other point during recent history. This transpired following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Soviet nuclear missile sites were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted nearly a fortnight of extreme anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The danger was palpable. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a chain reaction involving global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes might have followed, thrusting humanity into total ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered endlessly, through volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new dimension into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the figures that, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin considering? What were the American side planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic of global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its attempt to question: "Why do individuals hate one another to the point they go against one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that individuals can be friends or else have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now a writer and attorney. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is remarkable about this event was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch nearly as it happened while it moved towards disaster. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to keep their heads while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by the sense of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

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

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years since almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is that we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend