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

In October 1962, the planet edged nearer to ruin than at any other point in the contemporary era. This occurred when an American reconnaissance plane discovered that Soviet nuclear missile bases were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. In response, President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine around the island. What followed constituted almost two weeks filled with impossible tension.

An Catastrophic Danger

The peril remained palpable. Should President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series of global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, thrusting mankind toward total oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a novel perspective into the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders that, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Russians considering? What was Washington considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do people detest one another to the point they go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that people have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and now a writer as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to fight."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about this event was that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals worldwide could watch nearly in real time while it edged closer to armageddon. However, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would've sunk the naval vessels as well as sunk our primary naval force. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate when many advisors around them demanded military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of hope.

The Different Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is a shame because we connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our families have become friends, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to learn