‘After nearly destroying the world, our relatives have become friends’: a gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world edged closer toward destruction more so than ever in the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet atomic missile installations were being assembled on Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade around the island. The next phase constituted nearly 14 days filled with impossible stress.

An Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, casting humanity toward total ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, through volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented dimension into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures that, over 13 days, held the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What were the United States planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do nations hate one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be allies or can become complete enemies," states Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

A Precipice of Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals around the world could watch almost in real time as it crept closer to armageddon. However, the threat of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have obliterated the naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented an alternative narrative of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always wonderful and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed and well produced that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"We are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, after almost six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become allies, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is that we once again are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp