Following nearly annihilating our planet, our relatives are friends’: a thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, humanity came closer to annihilation more so than ever during recent history. This transpired when a US surveillance plane discovered the fact that Soviet atomic weapon sites were under construction on Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period was almost 14 days of unbearable anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained palpable. If Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes could have followed, plunging civilization into all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought an unprecedented dimension into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men that, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

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

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to explore: "Why do people detest each other and confront each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now a writer as well as attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to fight."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s notable regarding this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals worldwide could watch nearly as it happened as it edged closer to armageddon. Even so, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk our naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments demanded military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was a feeling of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that view was not held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and the 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 sign of hope.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 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," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we got along immediately and we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since almost destroying the world, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend