Following nearly destroying the world, our families have become friends’: the gripping podcast from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, humanity edged nearer to destruction than at any other point in recent history. This occurred when an American surveillance aircraft discovered that Soviet atomic missile bases were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine encircling the island. What followed was nearly 14 days filled with extreme tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger was obvious. If President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a cascade of global atomic strikes and counterstrikes might have ensued, casting humanity toward total ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined repeatedly, through books, films, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new element to the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the figures that, over 13 days, held the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Russians planning? What was Washington thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic of global relations.

For her, the strength of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can nations hate each other to the point they confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that individuals can be allies or else can become complete enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now a writer as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to fight."

The Brink of Disaster

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals globally were able to observe nearly in real time as it moved towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've destroyed the naval vessels as well as destroyed our primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles from Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, really, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle 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 connected immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn