‘After nearly destroying the world, the relatives have become allies’: a gripping podcast from JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet veered nearer to annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This occurred when a US reconnaissance plane discovered that Russian atomic missile sites were being built in Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine around the island. What followed was nearly two weeks of impossible stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The danger was clear. Should President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction of global atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging civilization toward all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined extensively, in books, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented perspective to the story. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the men that, over two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What was the United States thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do people hate one another and oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that humans have the potential to be allies or can become total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now an author and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Disaster

What is striking about this event was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide could watch almost in real time as it edged towards catastrophe. Even so, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've destroyed the aircraft carriers and sunk our largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly wonderful and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, however, that interpretation was not held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. But, really, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and USSR to appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of progress.

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

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp