‘After almost destroying the world, our relatives are allies’: the gripping podcast from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, humanity veered nearer to annihilation than at any other point during modern times. This happened when an American reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Russian atomic weapon bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling the island. The next phase constituted nearly two weeks filled with unbearable tension.

An Catastrophic Danger

The danger was clear. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes could have followed, plunging mankind toward total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented extensively, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a novel perspective into the story. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders that, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What were the American side considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "Why do nations hate each other to the point they oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that individuals can be friends or have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now an author and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to fight."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s striking about this event was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens globally could watch nearly as it happened while it moved closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation came closer than most people realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would have obliterated the naval vessels as well as destroyed America's primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate when many advisors around them demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, and Nina learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Later on, though, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of America and USSR would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years since almost destroying the world, our lineages are now allies, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend