‘After nearly annihilating the world, the families have become friends’: a thrilling podcast from JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet came closer to destruction than at any other point in modern times. This occurred following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft identified that Russian atomic missile installations were under construction on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase was almost two weeks of impossible anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a cascade of worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes would have ensued, casting humanity into total oblivion.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, through volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel dimension to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men that, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What were the United States planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic of international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do nations detest one another to the point they go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that people can be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently an author and attorney. "We see this repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Disaster

What’s remarkable about this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch nearly in real time as it edged closer to catastrophe. However, the danger of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers and destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the tension 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 painted an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since 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. "I was informed what a great moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the first," 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 were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we connected really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils

Or is it? Part of why this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp