Following nearly destroying the planet, the families have become allies’: a thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity came nearer toward ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred after an American surveillance plane found that Russian atomic missile bases were under construction on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted almost two weeks of unbearable anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The peril remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a cascade of global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, thrusting civilization toward all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, in volumes, films, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a novel perspective into the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders who, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin thinking? What was the United States planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show is its attempt to question: "Why do people hate each other and confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or else can become total enemies," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over when countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Disaster

What’s notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens globally were able to observe nearly as it happened while it crept towards disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've sunk our naval vessels and sunk America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and USSR would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to learn