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

During October 1962, humanity edged nearer to ruin than at any other point during modern times. This occurred after a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet atomic weapon bases were under construction in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly two weeks filled with extreme anxiety.

An Catastrophic Danger

The peril was clear. Should President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series involving global atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes would have followed, plunging mankind into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, in volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a novel dimension into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the figures who, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What were the American side planning?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do individuals hate each other and go against one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that people can be friends or else can become complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now an author and attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s remarkable regarding this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide were able to observe almost in real time while it moved towards catastrophe. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have sunk our aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was the sense of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But 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 things are constantly wonderful and positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that perspective was not held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. But, really, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we got along immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, after nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is because we once again are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to learn