‘After almost destroying our world, the relatives have become friends’: a gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the planet came closer toward ruin than at any other point in recent history. This occurred after an American reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Russian nuclear weapon bases were being assembled in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade around Cuba. The next phase was nearly 14 days filled with impossible anxiety.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger remained palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a cascade involving global nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, plunging civilization toward total destruction.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, in volumes, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel element into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men who, for 13 days, held the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What were the United States thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "Why do nations detest one another to the point they confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or can become complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over when countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding this event was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time while it moved closer to armageddon. However, the threat of destruction came closer than most people realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have destroyed the naval vessels as well as sunk America's primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of hope.

The Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different picture of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and well produced that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend