‘After nearly destroying our planet, our families have become friends’: a gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet veered nearer to destruction more so than ever during modern times. This occurred following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. In response, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade around the island. The ensuing period was nearly a fortnight filled with impossible tension.

An Catastrophic Danger

The threat was clear. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes would have followed, casting civilization into all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined extensively, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a novel perspective to the story. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders that, over two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Russians thinking? What were the American side planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do people hate one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that humans have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Disaster

What is remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people globally could watch almost in real time as it edged towards armageddon. However, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated the naval vessels as well as destroyed our primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate when many advisors around them demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative version of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are always fine and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, though, that view was not shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we got along immediately and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following almost 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Present Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend