‘After almost destroying the planet, the families are allies’: the thrilling podcast from JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the planet edged closer toward annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This transpired when a US surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet atomic missile installations were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The next phase constituted almost 14 days filled with impossible anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat was clear. Should President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series involving worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes might have followed, plunging civilization toward all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered extensively, in volumes, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a completely new perspective to the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men that, over 13 days, controlled the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What was the American side thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its attempt to explore: "Why do people hate each other and oppose each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that humans can be allies or have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now a writer as well as attorney. "We see this over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired so publicly, people worldwide could watch nearly as it happened while it moved towards catastrophe. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than most people realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would've destroyed the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have responded with massive retaliation which would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after these events, and Nina learned about it via the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative version of events.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and well produced that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp