‘After nearly annihilating our planet, the families have become allies’: the gripping podcast from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the planet edged closer to ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane found the fact that Soviet atomic weapon bases were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade around the island. The ensuing period constituted almost a fortnight filled with unbearable anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat was obvious. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a chain reaction of global atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes might have followed, casting mankind toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, in books, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel dimension to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the figures that, for 13 days, controlled the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Russians planning? What were the United States planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can nations detest one another to the point they oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that people can be allies or can become total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens around the world could watch nearly as it happened as it edged towards catastrophe. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed the naval vessels and sunk our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly wonderful and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that view would not be held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed , well produced that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and 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 sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly six decades since almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Current Perils

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp