‘After almost annihilating the planet, the relatives are allies’: the thrilling audio series from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, humanity veered closer toward annihilation than at any other point in the contemporary era. This occurred when a US reconnaissance plane found that Soviet atomic missile installations were under construction in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted nearly two weeks filled with extreme stress.

An Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained obvious. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a cascade of global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, casting civilization toward all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, in books, films, and television programmes. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a novel dimension into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin thinking? What were the American side thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "Why do nations detest each other and go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that individuals can be friends or can become total enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens around the world could watch almost as it happened while it edged towards catastrophe. Even so, the risk of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have obliterated the naval vessels as well as destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements around them were advocating action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are always fine or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Finally, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Present Perils

Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn