Following almost destroying our world, our relatives are friends’: a thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world veered closer to ruin more so than ever in modern times. This transpired following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft found that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being built in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days filled with impossible stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The threat remained obvious. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a series involving worldwide atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes would have ensued, casting mankind into total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered endlessly, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a completely new perspective to this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders who, for 13 days, controlled the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What was the United States thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to question: "Why do individuals detest one another and go against one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now an author and attorney. "We see this over and over when countries have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Disaster

What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals globally could watch almost in real time as it moved towards disaster. Nonetheless, the risk of destruction came closer than what anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would have sunk the aircraft carriers and sunk our primary fleet. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly fine and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. 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 within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed , expertly crafted that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most significant thing is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and USSR 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 hope.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become friends, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is because we once again are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to learn