Following nearly destroying our planet, our families are allies’: a gripping podcast from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, humanity veered closer to destruction than at any other point during the contemporary era. This transpired after a US surveillance plane discovered that Russian nuclear missile installations were under construction in Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine around Cuba. The next phase was nearly 14 days of extreme tension.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a cascade involving worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, thrusting mankind into total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, in volumes, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a novel element to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders that, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin considering? What were the American side planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the show is its endeavor to question: "Why do individuals hate one another to the point they oppose each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be allies or else can become complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this over and over when countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened as it moved closer to disaster. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have obliterated the aircraft carriers and sunk our primary naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles from Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks in October, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a scary day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most significant thing is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of America and the USSR would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met 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 almost destroying the planet, our families have become allies, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to learn