‘After almost annihilating the world, the relatives have become friends’: the gripping podcast featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the world edged nearer to destruction than at any other point during recent history. This happened when an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet atomic missile sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval quarantine around the island. The ensuing period constituted almost two weeks filled with unbearable stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The danger was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes might have followed, thrusting civilization into total ruination.

The October crisis has been covered extensively, through books, films, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a novel dimension to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders that, over 13 days, held the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Russians planning? What was the American side thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do people detest each other and oppose one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently an author and attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What is remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch almost as it happened as it edged closer to armageddon. However, the risk of destruction was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've destroyed our naval vessels and sunk our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Still, for those 13 days in October, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, which was a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "That is a shame since we got along really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Current Perils

Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp