‘After nearly destroying the planet, the relatives have become friends’: the thrilling podcast from JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the planet edged closer to destruction than at any other point during recent history. This happened when a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet nuclear missile installations were being assembled in Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade around Cuba. What followed was nearly 14 days filled with extreme tension.

The Unthinkable Threat

The danger was clear. If President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes and counterstrikes would have ensued, plunging civilization toward total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents an unprecedented perspective into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders that, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What was Washington considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do individuals detest each other and confront one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that humans can be allies or have the potential to be total adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and now an author as well as attorney. "We see this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What’s notable about this event is that, since it transpired so publicly, citizens worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened while it edged towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would've destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation which would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly fine or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, which was a positive thing," she continues. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced , well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR to appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of hope.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we connected really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Current Perils

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn