‘After almost destroying our world, the families have become allies’: a thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet came closer toward ruin more so than ever in modern times. This happened when an American surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear missile installations were being assembled in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine around Cuba. What followed was almost two weeks of extreme tension.

An Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained palpable. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade of worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes could have followed, thrusting civilization into total oblivion.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, in books, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a completely new perspective to this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders that, over two tense weeks, held the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What were the American side considering?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "How can individuals detest each other to the point they oppose one another?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that people have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be total adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations have gone to war, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What is striking regarding this event was that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it moved towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction came closer than what most people realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated the naval vessels as well as sunk America's primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope.

The Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine and positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, which was a positive thing," she continues. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous thing is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is a shame since we got along really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp