‘After nearly annihilating the world, our relatives have become allies’: the thrilling podcast featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the world veered closer toward annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This transpired following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft found that Russian atomic missile bases were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, President JFK directed a naval task force to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted nearly 14 days of impossible anxiety.

The Unthinkable Danger

The danger remained clear. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series of worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes could have ensued, plunging mankind toward all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, through volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented perspective to the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders that, over 13 days, controlled the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Russians thinking? What were the American side thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can nations detest one another and confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that people can be friends or have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

The Precipice of Disaster

What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time as it edged towards disaster. However, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have sunk the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them was pushing for military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days in October, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are always wonderful or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "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 so balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame since we got along really well and we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, after nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Current Perils

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend