Following nearly annihilating our world, the relatives are allies’: the thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the world came nearer toward destruction more so than ever during the contemporary era. This transpired when a US surveillance aircraft found the fact that Soviet nuclear missile bases were being built in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase was almost 14 days of extreme stress.

An Catastrophic Danger

The danger was palpable. Should Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a series of global atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes might have followed, thrusting humanity toward all-out ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined extensively, in volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new perspective into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men that, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What were the American side planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "Why do individuals hate each other to the point they go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that individuals can be friends or else have the potential to be total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to fight."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable regarding this event was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it edged towards disaster. However, the risk of destruction was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've destroyed the aircraft carriers and destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly wonderful and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, though, that view was not held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame because we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Present Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp