‘After nearly annihilating our world, our families have become friends’: the gripping podcast featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, humanity veered closer to destruction more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred after an American surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet atomic missile bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted almost 14 days of extreme anxiety.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction of global atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes would have followed, plunging civilization into total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined repeatedly, through books, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a novel perspective to the story. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men who, for two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What were Washington considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor of global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people detest one another and confront one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to fight."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe almost as it happened while it crept towards disaster. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have obliterated our aircraft carriers and sunk our primary fleet. In turn, we would have responded through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, for those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly fine or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that view would not be held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and USSR would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate because we connected really well and now we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since almost destroying the world, our families are now friends, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to learn