‘After almost destroying our planet, the families are friends’: a thrilling podcast featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the planet edged closer toward destruction more so than ever in recent history. This occurred when a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Russian atomic weapon sites were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly two weeks filled with unbearable anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, plunging mankind toward all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, in books, movies, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented dimension into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men that, over 13 days, grasped the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What were the American side thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do nations detest each other to the point they oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular it is that people have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is striking about this event is that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens globally were able to observe almost in real time while it moved towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have obliterated the naval vessels as well as sunk America's primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly fine and sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. Later on, however, that view was not held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along really well and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families are now allies, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Present Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp