Following nearly destroying our world, the families are friends’: the thrilling podcast featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, humanity veered closer toward destruction more so than ever in modern times. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet atomic missile sites were being built in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. The next phase was almost 14 days of impossible stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The threat remained obvious. Should President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a cascade of global nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, plunging mankind toward all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined extensively, in volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented perspective into the story. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders who, over 13 days, grasped the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What were the American side considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its attempt to question: "Why do nations hate each other and confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that people can be friends or else can become complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and now an author as well as attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to fight."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s notable regarding this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens worldwide could watch almost in real time while it edged closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would have sunk our aircraft carriers as well as sunk our largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, during those two weeks in October, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about it through the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always wonderful and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most significant aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "After 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Present Perils

Or is it? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp