‘After almost annihilating our world, the families are allies’: the gripping podcast from JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet edged nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during the contemporary era. This transpired when an American surveillance aircraft identified that Russian atomic weapon bases were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost a fortnight filled with extreme anxiety.

The Unthinkable Danger

The danger remained obvious. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, casting civilization toward all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents an unprecedented perspective to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders who, for 13 days, held the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Russians thinking? What was the United States planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic of global relations.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "How can individuals hate one another and go against one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that humans have the potential to be friends or can become complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now a writer and attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to fight."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What is striking about this event was that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens globally were able to observe nearly in real time while it moved towards disaster. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have obliterated our naval vessels and sunk our primary fleet. In turn, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was immense, as was a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about it via the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly fine or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed and well produced that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous thing is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp