‘After almost annihilating our planet, our families have become friends’: the thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the planet edged nearer toward ruin than at any other point during recent history. This happened after an American reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Russian atomic missile sites were being built in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine around the island. What followed constituted almost a fortnight of impossible stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained obvious. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a chain reaction of global nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, plunging civilization toward total destruction.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, in books, movies, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a novel element into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders who, over 13 days, held the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Russians planning? What was Washington considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do nations hate one another to the point they go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to fight."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What’s notable about this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens globally were able to observe almost as it happened as it moved closer to disaster. However, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would've sunk our aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they managed to keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his missiles from Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a scary time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly fine and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, partly, due to contributions from historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact 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 progress.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend