Following nearly annihilating the planet, the families have become friends’: the thrilling podcast featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, humanity veered nearer to annihilation than at any other point during the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance plane discovered that Russian atomic weapon bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, President JFK directed a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period was nearly a fortnight filled with unbearable tension.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained palpable. Should President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes would have followed, casting mankind into all-out oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, through books, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents an unprecedented perspective to the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men that, over 13 days, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What was Washington planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic of global relations.

For her, the strength of the show is its endeavor to explore: "Why do individuals hate each other to the point they confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or else can become complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens around the world were able to observe nearly in real time while it edged closer to disaster. However, the danger of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've sunk our naval vessels and sunk America's primary naval force. In turn, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative narrative of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always wonderful and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, however, that view would not be held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. But, really, the most significant thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of America and USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Present Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is that we now are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend