Following nearly annihilating our planet, the relatives have become friends’: a thrilling podcast from JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the world edged nearer toward annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This occurred following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane discovered that Russian nuclear weapon sites were being built in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine around Cuba. What followed constituted nearly two weeks filled with unbearable stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a cascade involving global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes would have followed, plunging humanity toward total destruction.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new dimension to the story. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the men that, for 13 days, controlled the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What were the United States considering?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do individuals hate one another to the point they go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that people have the potential to be friends or can become total enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens around the world were able to observe almost in real time as it crept towards catastrophe. However, the danger of annihilation came closer than what anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've destroyed our naval vessels and sunk our largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are always fine or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that view would not be held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of progress.

"We are not the first," smiles Nina. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families have become allies, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn