Following almost destroying the planet, our families are allies’: a gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the world came closer to annihilation than at any other point in recent history. This happened following the discovery that an American surveillance plane identified the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, President JFK directed a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine around the island. The next phase was nearly a fortnight filled with extreme tension.

The Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained clear. If Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a cascade of global nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, plunging humanity into all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented endlessly, through books, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new element to the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures that, over two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What were the American side thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can nations hate one another and go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that humans can be friends or can become complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently a writer and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens around the world could watch nearly in real time while it crept closer to disaster. Even so, the risk of destruction was more imminent than what most people realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would've sunk our naval vessels and sunk America's primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those two weeks in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always fine and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we connected immediately and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is because we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn