‘After nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies’: a thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, humanity came nearer to destruction than at any other point during modern times. This transpired following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK directed a naval task force to establish a naval quarantine around the island. The next phase was almost 14 days of unbearable tension.

An Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a cascade of global nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes could have followed, casting mankind toward all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, in volumes, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a novel dimension into the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders that, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Russians considering? What were Washington planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "How can nations hate one another to the point they confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that humans can be allies or else can become total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now an author and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Disaster

What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time while it crept towards catastrophe. Even so, the risk of destruction was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have obliterated the naval vessels and sunk America's primary naval force. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union would 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 symbol of optimism.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn