Following nearly destroying our world, our families are friends’: a gripping podcast featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, humanity veered closer to destruction than at any other point during modern times. This happened following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian nuclear weapon sites were being assembled in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around Cuba. What followed was nearly 14 days of extreme stress.

An Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained obvious. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, casting civilization toward all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new perspective to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men who, for 13 days, held the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Russians planning? What were the American side planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can individuals hate each other to the point they confront each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that people have the potential to be allies or else can become complete enemies," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now a writer and lawyer. "We see this over and over when nations have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Precipice of Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding this event is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally could watch nearly as it happened as it edged closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the risk of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented an alternative picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. Later on, though, that view was not shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and the USSR to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we got along really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp