Following almost destroying the planet, our relatives have become allies’: the gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the planet veered nearer toward annihilation than at any other point in the contemporary era. This occurred after a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian nuclear weapon installations were being built on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The next phase was almost a fortnight of unbearable anxiety.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series of worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, plunging mankind toward all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, in volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought an unprecedented dimension to the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the men that, over 13 days, held the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What were the American side thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do nations hate each other to the point they oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that people can be friends or else can become total enemies," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently a writer as well as attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s notable about this event is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens around the world could watch nearly in real time as it crept towards disaster. However, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have sunk the naval vessels as well as destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "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 the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. But, really, the most significant thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and USSR would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame since we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp