Following almost destroying our world, our relatives have become allies’: the thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, humanity edged closer toward ruin more so than ever during modern times. This happened after an American surveillance aircraft found the fact that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine around the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly two weeks of unbearable stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a cascade of worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging humanity toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a completely new perspective into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the men that, over 13 days, grasped the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What was the United States thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can nations detest each other to the point they go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that people have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer as well as attorney. "We see this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people around the world could watch nearly in real time while it crept towards disaster. Even so, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have sunk our naval vessels and sunk our largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about it via the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly wonderful or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, following nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp