‘After nearly destroying the world, the relatives have become friends’: the gripping podcast from JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the world veered nearer to destruction than at any other point in recent history. This happened when a US surveillance plane discovered that Russian nuclear missile sites were being built on Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period was almost a fortnight filled with impossible anxiety.

An Catastrophic Danger

The danger was palpable. Should Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction of global nuclear attacks and counterstrikes could have ensued, plunging civilization toward total oblivion.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, in books, films, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a completely new element to the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders who, for 13 days, held the fate of the planet in their hands.

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

In her view, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do people detest each other to the point they go against each other?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that individuals can be allies or can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens globally could watch nearly in real time as it edged towards disaster. Even so, the risk of destruction came closer than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different picture of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of progress.

"We aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is a shame because we connected really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our families are now allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Perils

Or is it? Part of why this series seems so urgent is because we once again are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to learn