Following nearly destroying the planet, our families are friends’: a thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, humanity came closer toward ruin than at any other point in the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Russian nuclear missile bases were being built in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine encircling the island. The next phase constituted nearly two weeks of unbearable stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The peril remained obvious. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic attacks and counterstrikes might have followed, thrusting mankind into total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered extensively, in volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel perspective to the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders who, for 13 days, grasped the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Russians planning? What were Washington planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can nations hate one another to the point they confront each other?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that people have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

A Precipice of Disaster

What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals worldwide could watch nearly in real time while it edged closer to armageddon. Even so, the risk of destruction came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would have obliterated our naval vessels and sunk America's primary naval force. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly wonderful and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that perspective would not be shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of progress.

"We are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame because we connected immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is that we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn