‘After nearly annihilating our world, our relatives have become friends’: the thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the world edged nearer to destruction more so than ever in recent history. This occurred when an American surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon installations were being assembled on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade around Cuba. What followed was nearly a fortnight filled with impossible anxiety.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained clear. If Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a cascade of global atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, plunging mankind toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, in volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces an unprecedented perspective to the story. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders who, over 13 days, held the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Russians considering? What were the American side considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do people detest one another to the point they confront each other?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that people have the potential to be allies or else can become total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

The Brink of Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals globally could watch nearly in real time while it moved closer to armageddon. However, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have destroyed our aircraft carriers and sunk our largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly fine and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our families have become allies, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to learn