‘After nearly annihilating the world, the relatives are allies’: a gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, humanity veered nearer to ruin more so than ever during recent history. This happened following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Soviet atomic weapon installations were being assembled on Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost a fortnight filled with unbearable stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a cascade of worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, thrusting humanity into total ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented extensively, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents an unprecedented element to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men who, for 13 days, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What was the American side considering?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the show is its endeavor to question: "How can people detest each other and confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or can become total enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened while it moved closer to catastrophe. Even so, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as destroyed America's primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation which would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them were advocating action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of hope.

A Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly fine or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation was not shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and 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 optimism.

"We are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend