‘After nearly destroying our world, the families have become friends’: the thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the world came closer toward annihilation than at any other point during recent history. This transpired after a US reconnaissance plane found the fact that Russian nuclear missile sites were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President JFK directed a naval task force to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. The next phase was almost 14 days of unbearable stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril was obvious. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a cascade involving global nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging civilization into all-out oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented perspective to the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures who, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What were Washington considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can individuals detest one another to the point they go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that humans can be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to fight."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What is notable about this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people globally could watch almost in real time as it moved closer to disaster. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have obliterated our naval vessels and destroyed America's primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when everyone around them demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a scary time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. But, really, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We are not the first," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is because we now are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend