Following almost destroying the world, the relatives have become allies’: a gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet edged nearer toward annihilation than at any other point during the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to enact a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted nearly 14 days of extreme tension.

An Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained obvious. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a series of global atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes might have followed, plunging humanity into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined extensively, in books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented element to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders that, for 13 days, controlled the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What was the United States planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do nations detest each other and go against one another?"

"It struck me how profound it is that individuals can be friends or have the potential to be complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over when countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What is remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide could watch nearly as it happened as it edged towards disaster. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've destroyed our naval vessels and sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was a feeling of hope.

A Different Perspective

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of America and the USSR would appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of progress.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is a shame because we got along really well and we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend