Following nearly annihilating the world, the relatives are friends’: a gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the world edged closer toward ruin more so than ever during modern times. This transpired when an American reconnaissance plane found the fact that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling Cuba. What followed was nearly two weeks filled with unbearable anxiety.

The Unthinkable Danger

The peril was palpable. If President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a cascade of global nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes would have followed, casting mankind into total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, in books, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new perspective to this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men that, for two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What was Washington considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic of global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "Why do people hate one another and go against one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that individuals can be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired so publicly, citizens around the world could watch almost in real time as it crept closer to armageddon. However, the risk of destruction came closer than most people realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated our aircraft carriers and destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, we would have responded through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following these events, and Nina being taught about it via the Soviet education system, which portrayed an alternative narrative 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 that much about it, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "After 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and now we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our families are now allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend