‘After almost destroying our planet, our relatives are allies’: the thrilling podcast featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world came closer to annihilation than at any other point during recent history. This occurred after an American surveillance plane identified that Soviet nuclear weapon installations were being built in Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. The ensuing period was nearly two weeks of extreme stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The peril was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a series of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, casting mankind into total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, movies, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a novel perspective into the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders that, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What was Washington considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the show is its attempt to question: "How can people hate each other to the point they confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that people can be allies or can become complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when nations have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is striking about this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened as it moved closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation came closer than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk the aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary naval force. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Nina learned about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different picture of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are always wonderful or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of progress.

"We are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become allies, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend