‘After almost annihilating the world, our families have become friends’: the gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet came nearer to ruin more so than ever in modern times. This transpired after a US reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Russian nuclear weapon bases were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade encircling Cuba. What followed was almost 14 days filled with unbearable anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat remained obvious. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes would have followed, casting civilization toward all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, through volumes, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a completely new element into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men who, over 13 days, held the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin considering? What were Washington considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can nations detest each other and confront one another?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that people can be friends or can become total adversaries," remarks Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s striking about this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, people worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time while it crept closer to catastrophe. However, the threat of annihilation came closer than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've sunk the naval vessels and destroyed America's primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements around them were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly fine or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Subsequently, though, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we’re friends, something that is really great. Finally, after nearly 60 years since almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend