Following nearly destroying our world, our families are allies’: the thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the planet edged nearer to destruction than at any other point in the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval quarantine around Cuba. What followed was almost 14 days filled with unbearable stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained clear. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes would have ensued, casting mankind into total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, through books, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a novel dimension to the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the figures that, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What was the United States planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can individuals detest each other to the point they confront each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that individuals can be allies or can become total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is notable regarding this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened while it moved towards armageddon. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk the aircraft carriers as well as sunk our primary fleet. In turn, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that view was not shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of America and USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of progress.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative 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 Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Finally, following almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn