‘After almost destroying our planet, our families have become friends’: the gripping podcast featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world edged nearer to destruction than at any other point in modern times. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance plane discovered that Russian atomic weapon bases were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to enact a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly two weeks filled with impossible tension.

The Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a cascade of global nuclear attacks and counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging civilization into all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new dimension to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders that, over 13 days, held the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Russians considering? What was the United States planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do individuals detest one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or else can become total adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to fight."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is remarkable about this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it moved towards armageddon. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative picture of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, however, that view was not held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend