‘After nearly destroying our planet, our relatives have become friends’: the thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the world edged nearer to annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened after an American reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Soviet atomic missile bases were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The next phase was nearly a fortnight filled with impossible anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat was clear. If President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a cascade involving global nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, plunging civilization into total ruination.

The October crisis has been covered extensively, through volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel perspective into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the figures who, for 13 days, controlled the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What were Washington thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do individuals hate one another and oppose one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or can become complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now an author and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to fight."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals globally could watch nearly in real time while it edged closer to disaster. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would've destroyed our aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks in October, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always wonderful or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that view was not held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, in part, due to the participation of historians. But, really, the most significant thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and USSR 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 sign of hope.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame since we connected really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend