‘After nearly destroying our world, the relatives are allies’: a thrilling podcast from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet came closer to ruin more so than ever in recent history. This happened after a US surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic missile installations were being built on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine encircling the island. What followed was nearly two weeks filled with unbearable tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat was palpable. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a series involving worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes would have followed, casting civilization toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, through books, movies, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought an unprecedented dimension to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men who, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Russians thinking? What was Washington thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to question: "How can people hate each other and oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be allies or can become complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and now an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded so publicly, people globally were able to observe almost as it happened while it moved closer to disaster. Even so, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've destroyed the naval vessels and destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, we would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Nina learned about it via the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly wonderful and positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that view was not held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the first," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend