Following nearly annihilating our planet, our families have become allies’: the gripping podcast featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the planet came nearer toward ruin than at any other point during modern times. This occurred following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane found the fact that Russian atomic weapon sites were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase was nearly a fortnight filled with unbearable anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger was clear. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a cascade of worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging civilization toward total destruction.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, in books, films, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces an unprecedented perspective into the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the men that, for 13 days, controlled the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What were the American side considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to question: "Why do nations hate one another to the point they go against one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that humans have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What is remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired so publicly, people globally could watch almost as it happened while it edged towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, and Nina being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, however, that view was not shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend