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

During the month of October 1962, humanity veered closer to destruction more so than ever during modern times. This occurred when a US surveillance plane found that Russian nuclear weapon sites were being built on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around Cuba. The next phase constituted nearly 14 days filled with unbearable tension.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained obvious. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide atomic attacks and counterstrikes might have followed, thrusting mankind into all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented repeatedly, through volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new element into the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures that, for 13 days, grasped the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Russians thinking? What was the United States thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

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

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that individuals can be allies or can become complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now a writer and attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when countries enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to fight."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, people around the world could watch nearly in real time as it edged closer to disaster. However, the danger of destruction was more imminent than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've obliterated our naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive thing," she continues. Later on, however, that view was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most significant aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"We are not the first," notes Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is a shame because we connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after almost six decades of almost destroying the world, our families have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to comprehend