‘After nearly destroying the planet, the relatives have become friends’: a thrilling podcast from JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world came nearer to destruction more so than ever in recent history. This occurred after an American surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian nuclear missile bases were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around Cuba. The next phase was almost 14 days of unbearable stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger remained palpable. If Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a series of global atomic attacks and counterstrikes would have ensued, thrusting civilization toward total oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, through books, movies, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a completely new perspective into the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders that, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What was the United States planning?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "How can individuals hate each other and confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that humans have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to fight."

The Brink of Disaster

What’s notable about this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide could watch nearly in real time while it moved closer to disaster. Even so, the risk of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've obliterated the aircraft carriers and destroyed our primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Still, for those two weeks in October, the fear was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Nina learned about it through the Soviet education system, which portrayed an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that view would not be 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."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families have become allies, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp