‘After nearly annihilating our world, our families are friends’: the gripping audio series from JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, humanity edged nearer toward destruction than at any other point in recent history. This occurred after a US surveillance plane identified that Soviet nuclear missile bases were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. The next phase was almost a fortnight of impossible tension.

The Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, plunging civilization into total ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, in books, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a novel element to the story. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men who, for 13 days, held the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What were Washington thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the podcast is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can nations hate one another and confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that humans can be friends or can become complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired so publicly, citizens worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time while it moved towards disaster. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have sunk the naval vessels and sunk America's largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Perspective

Still, during those 13 days in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following these events, with Nina learned about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always wonderful and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that view was not held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most significant aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we connected really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly six decades since almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Present Perils

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to comprehend