‘After nearly annihilating our planet, the relatives are friends’: the gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the planet edged closer toward ruin more so than ever during modern times. This occurred when a US reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Russian atomic weapon installations were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. In response, President JFK directed a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine encircling the island. The next phase constituted almost a fortnight filled with unbearable anxiety.

The Unthinkable Danger

The danger was palpable. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a chain reaction of global atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes might have followed, plunging civilization into all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been covered repeatedly, in books, movies, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new element to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders who, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Russians thinking? What was the United States thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the podcast is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people hate one another and confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that humans can be friends or can become complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Disaster

What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened while it moved closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would've obliterated our naval vessels and sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always wonderful and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, though, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of the United States 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 sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now friends, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Current Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn