‘After almost annihilating our planet, our relatives are allies’: a thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world edged nearer to annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred when an American surveillance aircraft discovered that Russian atomic weapon sites were under construction on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade around the island. The next phase was almost 14 days of extreme anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a chain reaction of global atomic attacks and counterstrikes would have ensued, casting civilization into all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented extensively, in volumes, films, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new element to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the figures that, for 13 days, held the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What was Washington planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do individuals hate one another and oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that humans can be friends or can become complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now a writer and attorney. "We see this repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people around the world could watch nearly as it happened as it edged towards disaster. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have obliterated the naval vessels and sunk our primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of events.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always wonderful and positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that perspective was not shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of America and the USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of hope.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is a shame since we connected immediately and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become allies, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp