Following almost annihilating the planet, the families are allies’: a thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world edged closer toward annihilation than at any other point during modern times. This transpired when a US reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Russian atomic weapon sites were being built in Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine around the island. The ensuing period was almost 14 days filled with extreme stress.

An Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained palpable. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series involving worldwide atomic attacks and counterstrikes would have followed, thrusting humanity toward total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered endlessly, through books, films, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel dimension into the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders who, over two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What was the United States thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic of global relations.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can nations hate each other and go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that people can be friends or else have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to fight."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired so publicly, people around the world could watch nearly in real time while it edged closer to armageddon. Even so, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would've destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Different Perspective

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following the crisis, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly fine or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend