Following nearly annihilating our world, the families have become friends’: the gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, humanity edged closer toward annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The next phase constituted almost two weeks filled with unbearable stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained obvious. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a series involving global atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes would have followed, plunging humanity toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, through books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a completely new element into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men that, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What was the United States planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the podcast is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people hate each other and oppose one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that people have the potential to be friends or else can become complete enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is striking about this event was that, because it unfolded so publicly, people globally were able to observe nearly in real time as it moved towards disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed the aircraft carriers and destroyed our primary fleet. And, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate when everyone around them was pushing for military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American missiles from Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following these events, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly wonderful or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp