‘After nearly destroying the world, our relatives are allies’: a gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the planet edged nearer to destruction than at any other point during modern times. This transpired after an American reconnaissance plane identified that Russian nuclear missile installations were being assembled on Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period was nearly two weeks of impossible stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger was palpable. Should Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a cascade involving worldwide atomic attacks and counterstrikes would have followed, plunging humanity toward all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented repeatedly, in books, films, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new perspective into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders who, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What were the American side planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "How can people hate each other to the point they oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or can become complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and now an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to fight."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals globally were able to observe nearly in real time as it crept closer to armageddon. Even so, the danger of destruction came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've deployed a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to keep their heads while calmly negotiate when many advisors around them demanded military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American missiles based in Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are always wonderful or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that perspective was not shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, due to contributions from historians. But, really, the most significant thing is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years since almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend