‘After almost destroying the planet, our relatives have become friends’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, humanity came nearer to ruin than at any other point in recent history. This occurred when an American reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Russian nuclear missile bases were under construction on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. In response, President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly two weeks of impossible stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat was palpable. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade involving global atomic attacks and counterstrikes could have followed, casting humanity toward total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined extensively, through volumes, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented perspective to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the figures that, over 13 days, held the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin thinking? What were the American side considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do individuals detest each other to the point they go against each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or can become complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "History shows this over and over when countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Brink of Disaster

What is notable about this event was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide could watch nearly in real time while it moved closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as destroyed America's primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva learned about it via the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that view was not shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, due to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "After 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we connected really well and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years since almost destroying the world, our families are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp