Following almost destroying our planet, the relatives have become friends’: the thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet came nearer to destruction than at any other point during the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Russian atomic missile sites were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period constituted almost 14 days filled with impossible stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained palpable. If Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a series of global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes would have followed, casting civilization into total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, in volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents an unprecedented element to the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the men that, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Russians planning? What was Washington thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the show is its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate each other to the point they go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that people can be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable about this event is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people globally could watch almost as it happened as it crept towards armageddon. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted 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 launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would've sunk our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his missiles from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following the crisis, and Nina learned about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always fine and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided the war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most significant aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of hope.

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

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we got along really well and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn