‘After nearly destroying the planet, the relatives have become allies’: the gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet veered closer to ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened when an American surveillance plane identified the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were being assembled in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime blockade around Cuba. The next phase was almost 14 days of unbearable anxiety.

An Catastrophic Threat

The peril remained obvious. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a cascade involving global atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes would have ensued, casting mankind toward total oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered extensively, through volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new element to the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures that, for 13 days, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Russians thinking? What was the American side thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can people detest each other and go against one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently a writer and attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals globally could watch almost as it happened as it crept towards armageddon. However, the danger of annihilation came closer than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always wonderful and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that perspective would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years since almost destroying the world, our families have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Present Perils

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend