‘After nearly annihilating the world, the relatives have become allies’: a thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, humanity edged closer toward destruction than at any other point during recent history. This transpired when a US surveillance plane discovered the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a naval blockade encircling the island. What followed constituted almost two weeks filled with unbearable stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat remained clear. If President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes would have followed, casting civilization into total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered extensively, through volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a completely new element into the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders who, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin thinking? What was the American side considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can nations hate each other to the point they confront each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that individuals can be friends or else have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals globally could watch almost as it happened while it moved closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction came closer than most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have sunk our naval vessels as well as sunk our primary naval force. In turn, we would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American missiles from Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most significant aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Present Perils

Or is it? Part of why this series seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to learn