‘After nearly destroying the world, the families are friends’: a gripping podcast featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the world came nearer toward destruction more so than ever during the contemporary era. This happened after a US surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime blockade around the island. The ensuing period was nearly two weeks of extreme anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained obvious. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a cascade involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes would have ensued, casting humanity into total ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, through books, films, and television programmes. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel dimension to the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men that, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What were Washington thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to question: "Why do people detest one another to the point they confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that people have the potential to be allies or can become total enemies," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now a writer and attorney. "We see this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens globally were able to observe nearly in real time as it crept towards catastrophe. Even so, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed the naval vessels and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate when everyone around them demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Nina learned about it through the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, though, that perspective was not held 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 Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of historians. But, really, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is unfortunate because we connected immediately and now we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Current Perils

Or is it? Part of why this series seems so urgent is that we once again are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn