Following nearly destroying our world, our families have become allies’: a thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet veered nearer to ruin than at any other point during modern times. This occurred following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane found the fact that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being assembled in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted almost a fortnight of extreme anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained clear. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide atomic attacks and counterstrikes might have ensued, thrusting mankind into total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered endlessly, through volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new perspective into the story. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures who, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Russians thinking? What were Washington planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can individuals detest one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable the fact that people can be friends or have the potential to be total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author and attorney. "We see this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide could watch nearly as it happened while it crept closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation came closer than what anybody realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a scary day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly fine or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced , well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of progress.

"We are not the first," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to comprehend