Following almost destroying our world, our relatives are allies’: a thrilling podcast featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the world edged nearer toward destruction than at any other point during the contemporary era. This happened after an American surveillance plane found the fact that Russian atomic missile sites were being assembled in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. In response, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval blockade around the island. The ensuing period was nearly two weeks filled with impossible tension.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril was clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade involving worldwide atomic attacks and counterstrikes would have ensued, casting civilization into all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented perspective into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the figures who, for 13 days, grasped the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Russians thinking? What was the United States thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can individuals hate one another and go against each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now an author and attorney. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s striking regarding this event is that, since it transpired so publicly, people around the world could watch almost as it happened as it moved closer to catastrophe. However, the risk of destruction came closer than most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed our naval vessels and destroyed our largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American missiles based in Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative narrative of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly wonderful or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided the war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that perspective would not be shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced , well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame since we got along immediately and we are friends, which is really great. Finally, following almost six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages are now allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Present Perils

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to grasp