Following nearly destroying our world, our relatives have become friends’: a thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, humanity edged closer to destruction more so than ever in the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance plane found that Soviet atomic missile sites were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine around the island. The next phase was almost a fortnight of extreme anxiety.

An Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a chain reaction involving global nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes would have followed, casting humanity toward total oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, in books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel element to this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men that, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What were Washington considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "Why do people hate one another and go against one another?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that individuals can be allies or have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable about this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens around the world could watch nearly in real time while it crept closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would've destroyed the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following these events, with Nina learned about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we’re friends, something that is really great. Finally, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our families have become allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through 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 grasp