Following nearly destroying the world, our families are allies’: a gripping podcast from JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet came nearer to ruin than at any other point during modern times. This transpired following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days filled with impossible stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a series of global atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes could have followed, plunging civilization toward total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented repeatedly, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a completely new dimension into the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the figures that, over 13 days, controlled the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What was the American side thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do people detest each other and confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over when countries enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Disaster

What is striking about this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide were able to observe almost in real time while it edged closer to disaster. However, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would have obliterated our naval vessels as well as sunk America's primary naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy when everyone around them were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which presented a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate since we got along really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly six decades since almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp