Following almost destroying our planet, our relatives are friends’: a gripping podcast featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the world veered nearer to destruction more so than ever in modern times. This transpired after an American surveillance plane found that Russian nuclear weapon installations were under construction in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade encircling the island. The next phase constituted almost a fortnight filled with unbearable tension.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat was obvious. If President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a chain reaction involving global nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes might have followed, plunging humanity toward all-out ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, in volumes, films, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new dimension to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures who, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What were the American side planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can individuals hate each other to the point they oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to fight."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What is notable regarding this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals globally could watch nearly as it happened while it crept closer to armageddon. However, the danger of destruction came closer than what anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, and Nina learned about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different version of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous 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 USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we got along really well and we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend