‘After almost annihilating our world, the relatives are allies’: a thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity came nearer toward destruction more so than ever during recent history. This transpired following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were under construction in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine around Cuba. The next phase was almost two weeks of unbearable anxiety.

An Catastrophic Threat

The peril remained obvious. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction involving global atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, thrusting mankind toward all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, in books, movies, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents an unprecedented dimension to the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the men who, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What was Washington considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic of global relations.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do nations hate one another to the point they confront one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that humans can be friends or else can become total adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Brink of Disaster

What is remarkable about this event was that, because it transpired so publicly, people globally were able to observe almost in real time while it crept towards armageddon. Even so, the risk of destruction was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would have sunk the naval vessels and sunk our primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about it via the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative picture of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always fine and positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame since we got along immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp