Following almost destroying our world, our relatives have become friends’: a thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet veered closer toward annihilation than at any other point during the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane found the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period constituted almost a fortnight of extreme anxiety.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat was clear. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a cascade of worldwide atomic strikes and counterstrikes would have followed, casting mankind into total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented extensively, in volumes, movies, and television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new perspective into the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders who, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Russians planning? What was the United States thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to question: "How can people hate one another and oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or can become complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly it is to fight."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is remarkable regarding this event is that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals worldwide could watch nearly in real time while it crept closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would've destroyed our naval vessels and sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Different Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Later on, however, that view was not shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of optimism.

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

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is a shame because we connected really well and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series feels so necessary is because we now are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp