‘After nearly annihilating the planet, our relatives have become friends’: the gripping audio series featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the world edged nearer to destruction more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred when an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine around the island. The next phase constituted nearly two weeks filled with unbearable tension.

The Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a cascade involving worldwide atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, thrusting mankind into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered extensively, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a novel dimension to the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures who, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What were the American side planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "Why do nations hate one another to the point they confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be friends or can become complete adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens around the world could watch nearly in real time as it crept towards armageddon. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have obliterated the naval vessels and destroyed our primary fleet. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments demanded military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles from Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, however, that view was not shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and well produced so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is a shame because we connected really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become friends, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Present Perils

Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn