‘After almost annihilating the world, our relatives have become allies’: a gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet came nearer toward destruction more so than ever in the contemporary era. This transpired when an American surveillance plane identified the fact that Soviet nuclear missile bases were under construction in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to impose a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost two weeks of unbearable tension.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat was obvious. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a chain reaction of global atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes would have followed, plunging humanity into all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a novel dimension into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the men who, for two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What were the United States thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do people detest each other to the point they confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or can become complete enemies," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s striking about this event was that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens globally could watch nearly in real time as it crept closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk our naval vessels and sunk our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina learned about it via the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative version of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. Subsequently, though, that view was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous thing is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "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 before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame because we got along immediately and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly 60 years since almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils

Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend