Following almost annihilating our world, our families have become allies’: a thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world came closer toward destruction more so than ever during recent history. This happened after a US reconnaissance aircraft found that Russian nuclear weapon sites were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The next phase constituted almost a fortnight filled with impossible tension.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade of global atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes could have followed, thrusting humanity toward total oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered extensively, in volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel element to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders who, over two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What were the American side thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do nations detest each other to the point they confront each other?"

"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that individuals can be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to fight."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s notable about this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens worldwide could watch nearly in real time while it edged towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have destroyed our aircraft carriers and destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American missiles from Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about it via the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative version of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view would not be held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of progress.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame because we connected immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Present Perils

Or is it? Part of why this series feels so necessary is that we now are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp