Following almost destroying the planet, the families are friends’: the gripping podcast featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the world came closer to ruin than at any other point during modern times. This happened when an American surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Russian nuclear missile sites were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. In response, President JFK directed a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost a fortnight of extreme tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, thrusting mankind toward total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel element to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders that, for 13 days, controlled the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Russians planning? What was the American side planning?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic of global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do people hate each other and oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be friends or can become complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now an author and lawyer. "We see this over and over when countries have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is notable about this event was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people globally could watch nearly in real time while it moved closer to catastrophe. However, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed our naval vessels and sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have responded with massive retaliation which would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate when many advisors around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly fine or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that perspective was not held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most significant thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is a shame because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades since almost destroying the world, our families are now allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend