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

During the month of October 1962, humanity came closer toward annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This transpired when a US surveillance plane discovered the fact that Russian nuclear missile bases were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to enact a maritime blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted almost 14 days of extreme anxiety.

An Catastrophic Threat

The peril was clear. If Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction involving global nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes could have followed, thrusting mankind into all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel element to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders that, over 13 days, held the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What were the United States planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "Why do people hate one another to the point they go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that humans can be friends or else have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired so publicly, people worldwide could watch almost as it happened while it crept closer to armageddon. However, the threat of annihilation came closer than most people realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk the naval vessels and destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, who managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Later on, however, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, something that is really great. Finally, following almost six decades since almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of why this series seems so urgent is because we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend