Following almost annihilating our planet, the relatives have become allies’: a thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the world edged nearer toward destruction more so than ever during recent history. This transpired after a US surveillance plane identified the fact that Russian atomic weapon installations were being built in Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly 14 days of impossible stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The peril was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a series involving global nuclear strikes and counterstrikes might have ensued, thrusting civilization toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel element into the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures that, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin considering? What were the American side planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do people hate one another and go against each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Disaster

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded so publicly, people globally could watch almost in real time while it crept towards disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated the naval vessels and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated 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 managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of hope.

A Different Perspective

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful and positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, partly, due to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of hope.

"We are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we connected really well and we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our families are now friends, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Perils

Or is it? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn