‘After nearly destroying the world, the families have become allies’: a thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity veered nearer to destruction than at any other point in modern times. This occurred following the discovery that an American surveillance plane identified the fact that Soviet atomic weapon sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. In response, President JFK directed a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly 14 days of unbearable tension.

The Catastrophic Threat

The peril was palpable. Should Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a cascade involving global atomic strikes and counterstrikes would have followed, plunging humanity into all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented repeatedly, through volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces an unprecedented perspective into the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures that, for 13 days, controlled the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What were the United States thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can individuals detest each other to the point they oppose one another?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time while it moved closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've sunk the naval vessels as well as destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks in October, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about it through the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different version of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, which was a positive thing," she continues. Later on, though, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we connected really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn