Following almost destroying the planet, the families have become friends’: the thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world veered nearer toward ruin more so than ever during the contemporary era. This happened when a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period was almost a fortnight of unbearable stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a series involving worldwide nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging civilization into total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, through books, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new element into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men who, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin thinking? What were the United States considering?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic of international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "How can nations hate one another and oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and now a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to fight."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What is striking regarding this event is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people globally could watch almost as it happened as it edged towards armageddon. However, the threat of destruction came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would've destroyed our naval vessels as well as destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of why this series feels so necessary is that we once again are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to learn