‘After almost destroying the world, the families have become allies’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world came nearer to ruin more so than ever in modern times. This transpired when an American surveillance plane discovered that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were being assembled on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a naval blockade around the island. The next phase was nearly two weeks of unbearable stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a chain reaction of global nuclear attacks and counterstrikes would have followed, plunging civilization toward total oblivion.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, in books, films, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented dimension to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures that, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What was the American side thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "How can nations detest each other and oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that humans can be friends or else have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is striking about this event was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide could watch almost in real time while it moved towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would have sunk our aircraft carriers and sunk America's primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after these events, and Nina learned about it through the Soviet education system, which presented a slightly different narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine and sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that perspective was not shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America 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, has to be a sign of progress.

"We are not the first," notes Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we got along immediately and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since almost destroying the world, our families are now friends, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend