‘After almost destroying our planet, our families are friends’: the thrilling podcast from JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, humanity veered nearer to destruction than at any other point in recent history. This transpired when a US surveillance plane discovered that Soviet nuclear missile sites were under construction on Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine encircling the island. What followed constituted nearly two weeks of extreme tension.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat was palpable. If President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a series involving worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging civilization toward all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, in books, films, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a novel perspective to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures that, for two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What were the American side considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people hate one another and go against one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "We see this over and over when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time as it crept towards armageddon. However, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've destroyed our naval vessels as well as destroyed America's primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments demanded military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about it through the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative picture of events.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful and positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that perspective was not held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant thing is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union 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 sign of hope.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn