Following nearly destroying the world, the families have become allies’: the thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the planet edged nearer toward destruction more so than ever during the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were under construction in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted almost 14 days of impossible anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained obvious. Should Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a cascade involving worldwide atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, plunging civilization into total oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, in volumes, films, and television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a completely new element to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders who, over two tense weeks, held the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What was the American side thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "Why do nations detest each other and go against each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or else can become total enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now a writer and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to fight."

A Brink of Disaster

What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people around the world could watch nearly as it happened as it crept towards disaster. However, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would have obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina learned about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always wonderful or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided the war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, however, that view was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we got along really well and we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families are now allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Present Perils

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend