‘After nearly destroying the world, our families have become friends’: a gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the planet came closer to annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This occurred after a US surveillance plane discovered that Russian atomic weapon sites were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted almost a fortnight of extreme stress.

An Unthinkable Threat

The danger was clear. Should Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series of global atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, thrusting civilization toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, through volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel dimension into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the figures who, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What were the United States thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic of international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show is its endeavor to explore: "How can people hate one another to the point they go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that humans have the potential to be friends or else can become total adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author and lawyer. "We see this over and over when nations have gone to war, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired so publicly, people globally could watch almost in real time while it edged closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction came closer than most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would've destroyed our aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to keep their heads while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly fine and sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Later on, however, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed and well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is a shame because we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series seems so urgent is that we once again are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp