‘After nearly destroying the world, our relatives have become friends’: a thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the planet veered closer to destruction than at any other point during recent history. This occurred when an American surveillance plane identified that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being built on Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted almost 14 days filled with unbearable stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The danger was clear. Should Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a cascade involving global atomic strikes and counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging mankind toward total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, through books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new perspective to the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men that, over 13 days, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What was the United States thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to question: "Why do nations detest each other to the point they oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that individuals can be friends or else have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe almost in real time while it crept closer to disaster. However, the threat of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would've destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful and positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that perspective was not shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp