‘After nearly destroying the planet, our families are allies’: the gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet veered nearer toward destruction more so than ever in recent history. This happened when a US surveillance plane identified that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly two weeks of unbearable stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat was palpable. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a series involving global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, thrusting mankind into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, through volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a novel element to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men that, over 13 days, held the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What was Washington thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "How can individuals hate one another to the point they go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now a writer and lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened while it edged closer to armageddon. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Different Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, though, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, partly, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most significant thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of America and the USSR to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of hope.

"We aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to comprehend