‘After almost annihilating our world, our relatives have become allies’: the gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, humanity veered nearer toward ruin more so than ever during recent history. This happened following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft found that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being assembled on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. What followed was nearly two weeks filled with impossible anxiety.

An Catastrophic Threat

The danger was clear. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes would have followed, casting mankind into total ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined repeatedly, in books, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a novel element into the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures that, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What were the American side thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to question: "How can nations detest one another and confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that people have the potential to be allies or can become complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s remarkable regarding this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens around the world could watch nearly as it happened as it moved closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the risk of destruction was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would've sunk our naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Nina learned about it via the Soviet education system, which portrayed an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are always wonderful or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that view would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame because we got along really well and we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, after nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Perils

Or is it? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to comprehend