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

During the month of October 1962, the planet came nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during recent history. This transpired following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being built in Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a naval quarantine encircling the island. What followed was nearly two weeks filled with extreme anxiety.

An Catastrophic Danger

The danger was obvious. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a cascade involving global nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, thrusting civilization toward all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined extensively, through volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel perspective to this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders that, for 13 days, controlled the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What were Washington considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to explore: "Why do nations detest each other to the point they confront one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that humans can be friends or else have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as attorney. "We see this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

A Brink of Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe almost in real time as it crept closer to catastrophe. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've destroyed our naval vessels and sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, with Nina learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly fine or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that view would not be held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most momentous aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of America and USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our families are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is that we once again are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend