Following nearly annihilating our planet, our families are allies’: a thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the world veered nearer toward annihilation than at any other point in the contemporary era. This occurred when an American surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being built on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade around the island. What followed constituted almost 14 days filled with unbearable tension.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger was palpable. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a series of worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes would have followed, casting humanity toward all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, in volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented perspective to the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders that, over 13 days, held the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What were the American side planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do people detest one another and oppose one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this over and over when nations have gone to war, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded so publicly, people globally could watch almost as it happened while it crept towards disaster. Even so, the risk of destruction was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have sunk our naval vessels as well as destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when everyone around them demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his missiles from Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative version of events.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always wonderful and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that perspective was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along immediately and now we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend