Following nearly annihilating the planet, the relatives are friends’: a gripping podcast featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, humanity edged nearer to annihilation than at any other point during modern times. This happened following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft identified that Russian atomic weapon bases were being assembled on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a naval blockade around the island. What followed was almost a fortnight filled with impossible stress.

An Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained palpable. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a cascade of global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, thrusting civilization toward all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered endlessly, through volumes, films, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents an unprecedented element into the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men that, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin thinking? What were Washington thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to question: "Why do people hate one another to the point they confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that humans can be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is remarkable about this event was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals globally could watch nearly in real time as it edged closer to armageddon. Even so, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would've sunk the aircraft carriers and sunk our primary naval force. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after these events, and Nina learned about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always wonderful and sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, though, that perspective was not held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

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

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate since we got along really well and we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp