‘After nearly annihilating our planet, our relatives are allies’: a gripping podcast from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world edged closer to destruction than at any other point during recent history. This transpired following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft identified that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were being assembled in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days of impossible tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained palpable. Should President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a chain reaction involving global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging civilization toward total destruction.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a completely new dimension to the story. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the men that, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Russians thinking? What was Washington planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do nations detest each other to the point they oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that individuals have the potential to be friends or can become complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened while it crept towards disaster. Even so, the risk of destruction came closer than most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk our aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments was pushing for military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different version of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly fine or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

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

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after almost six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Current Perils

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to comprehend