‘After almost destroying our world, the relatives have become friends’: the thrilling podcast from JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, humanity came closer toward annihilation than at any other point during recent history. This transpired when an American reconnaissance aircraft identified that Russian nuclear missile bases were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade around the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly 14 days of extreme anxiety.

An Catastrophic Danger

The peril remained obvious. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, thrusting civilization toward all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented extensively, through books, movies, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented dimension into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures who, over 13 days, grasped the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What was the United States planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do people hate each other and confront one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that humans have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be total enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Precipice of Disaster

What’s remarkable about this event is that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals around the world could watch nearly in real time while it moved towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've sunk the aircraft carriers and sunk our largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Still, for those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly fine and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, which was a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that interpretation was not shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, really, the most significant thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate since we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Present Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to learn