Following nearly destroying the planet, the relatives have become allies’: the thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, humanity came closer toward annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This transpired after an American surveillance aircraft discovered that Soviet nuclear weapon installations were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. In response, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period was almost a fortnight of impossible stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat was obvious. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a cascade involving global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, casting civilization toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, through volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new perspective to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What were Washington planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate one another and confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that people can be friends or have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now a writer and lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals globally were able to observe almost as it happened as it moved towards disaster. However, the danger of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated the naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always wonderful and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, though, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and USSR would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

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

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected immediately and we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, following almost six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to grasp