‘After nearly destroying our world, our families are friends’: a gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, humanity came closer toward ruin more so than ever during recent history. This happened following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Russian nuclear missile sites were being assembled in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime blockade around Cuba. The next phase constituted nearly a fortnight filled with extreme anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The peril was palpable. If President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a series involving global nuclear attacks and counterstrikes could have ensued, casting civilization toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, through volumes, films, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel dimension to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders that, over two tense weeks, held the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Russians considering? What were Washington considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can nations hate one another and go against each other?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that individuals can be friends or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to fight."

A Precipice of Disaster

What is striking about this event is that, since it transpired so publicly, people around the world could watch almost in real time as it crept towards disaster. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have sunk the naval vessels as well as destroyed America's primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate when everyone around them demanded action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following the crisis, and Nina learned about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always fine and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment it was, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

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

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is because we now are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to learn