Following almost annihilating the world, the families are allies’: the thrilling podcast featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world edged closer to ruin than at any other point in the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft found that Soviet atomic weapon installations were under construction on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a naval blockade around the island. The ensuing period was nearly two weeks of unbearable tension.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril was clear. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, casting civilization into total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, in books, films, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new dimension to the story. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders that, over two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What was the United States planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can nations detest one another and go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that humans can be friends or have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What’s notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens around the world could watch almost in real time as it moved towards armageddon. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've destroyed the aircraft carriers and sunk our largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly fine or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great moment it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. Later on, however, that interpretation was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced , expertly crafted that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of America and USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp