Following nearly destroying our world, the relatives are friends’: a gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, humanity veered nearer toward annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft identified that Soviet nuclear missile bases were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. In response, President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted almost a fortnight of extreme anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat remained palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a series involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes would have followed, plunging mankind toward total oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders who, for 13 days, held the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Russians planning? What were Washington planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do individuals detest one another and oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is striking regarding this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide could watch nearly in real time as it crept closer to catastrophe. Even so, the threat of annihilation came closer than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would have sunk our aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Still, during those two weeks in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, with Nina learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different version of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, however, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of progress.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend