Following almost annihilating our planet, our relatives are allies’: a gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the planet came nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This occurred when a US reconnaissance plane found that Russian nuclear missile installations were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to enact a naval blockade around the island. The ensuing period constituted almost 14 days of impossible anxiety.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, plunging humanity into total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered endlessly, through volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel dimension into the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders who, for two tense weeks, controlled the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Russians planning? What were the United States considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic of global relations.

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

"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that individuals can be allies or have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to fight."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable about this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens around the world were able to observe nearly in real time while it edged towards armageddon. Even so, the risk of destruction came closer than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have sunk our naval vessels and sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Nina learned about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades since almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to comprehend