Following almost annihilating our planet, our relatives have become friends’: a gripping podcast from JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet veered closer to annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This transpired after an American surveillance plane found the fact that Soviet atomic weapon installations were being built in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine around the island. What followed constituted nearly a fortnight filled with unbearable stress.

An Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained obvious. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a series of global nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, thrusting mankind toward all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, in volumes, films, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new dimension to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men that, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Russians considering? What were the American side thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate one another to the point they oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular it is that people have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to fight."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired so publicly, people around the world were able to observe almost as it happened while it moved closer to armageddon. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have sunk the naval vessels and sunk America's primary fleet. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Different Perspective

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which presented a slightly different picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame since we got along really well and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our families are now friends, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp