‘After almost destroying the planet, the relatives are allies’: a thrilling podcast from JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the planet veered nearer toward destruction than at any other point during the contemporary era. This occurred after an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic missile installations were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase was almost a fortnight filled with impossible anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril was clear. Should President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes would have ensued, thrusting civilization into all-out ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered endlessly, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented perspective into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures who, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What were the American side thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to question: "How can individuals hate one another to the point they oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals can be friends or else can become complete enemies," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to fight."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about this event was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world were able to observe almost in real time while it crept closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of hope.

The Different Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, though, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost six decades since almost destroying the world, our families are now friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Current Perils

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn