Following nearly destroying the world, our families are friends’: the gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, humanity veered closer to destruction more so than ever in modern times. This occurred when a US surveillance aircraft identified that Russian atomic weapon bases were being assembled in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade around Cuba. The next phase constituted nearly two weeks of impossible stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The threat was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade involving worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes could have ensued, plunging humanity toward all-out ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a completely new dimension into the story. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men who, for 13 days, grasped the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What was the United States thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations.

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

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that individuals can be allies or else can become total enemies," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Brink of Disaster

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired so publicly, people globally could watch nearly in real time while it moved towards disaster. However, the danger of annihilation came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have destroyed the naval vessels as well as destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly fine and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive thing," she continues. Later on, however, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn