‘After almost annihilating the planet, the relatives have become allies’: a gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, humanity came nearer toward annihilation than at any other point in recent history. This happened when a US surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet atomic missile sites were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted almost two weeks filled with impossible anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a cascade involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, casting mankind toward total oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered endlessly, through volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a novel element to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders who, over two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the world within their grasp.

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

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "Why do people hate one another and confront each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that people can be allies or else can become complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is notable about this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals globally could watch almost in real time while it edged towards armageddon. Even so, the risk of destruction came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would have obliterated the aircraft carriers and sunk our largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different picture of events.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that view would not be held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced , well produced so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, after almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become allies, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp