‘After almost annihilating our world, the relatives are friends’: the thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the planet came nearer to ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This transpired after an American reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were under construction in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, President JFK ordered a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost two weeks filled with extreme anxiety.

The Catastrophic Threat

The peril remained palpable. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes would have ensued, plunging humanity toward all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, in books, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a novel element to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders that, for 13 days, held the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Russians thinking? What were the American side planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "How can people detest each other to the point they go against one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that humans have the potential to be friends or else can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens around the world could watch almost in real time while it edged closer to disaster. However, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've obliterated our naval vessels as well as sunk our primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced , well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame because we got along really well and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become friends, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp