‘After almost destroying our planet, the families have become friends’: the gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet came closer to annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This happened after an American surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet atomic missile installations were being built in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to enact a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase was almost a fortnight filled with impossible tension.

An Catastrophic Threat

The danger remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a series involving global nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, casting humanity toward all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined repeatedly, through books, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new perspective into the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men who, for 13 days, controlled the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What was the United States considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can nations hate each other to the point they go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that individuals can be allies or have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently a writer as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals globally were able to observe nearly as it happened as it crept towards disaster. However, the risk of destruction was more imminent than what most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed our aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments demanded military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Different Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks in October, the fear was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about it via the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always wonderful and sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, however, that view was not shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. But, really, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of America and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we got along really well and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost six decades since almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now friends, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to learn