Following almost annihilating our world, the relatives are friends’: a thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world edged nearer toward annihilation than at any other point during the contemporary era. This happened after an American reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Russian nuclear missile installations were under construction on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around Cuba. What followed was nearly a fortnight filled with extreme anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The danger was palpable. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction of global nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes could have followed, thrusting humanity toward total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel element to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures that, for two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What was the United States considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do individuals hate one another and oppose each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be friends or else can become total enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people globally were able to observe almost as it happened as it crept towards armageddon. Even so, the threat of annihilation came closer than most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have sunk the naval vessels and sunk our primary naval force. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of events.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always fine or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Later on, however, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced , expertly crafted that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of America and the USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we got along immediately and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend