‘After nearly annihilating our world, the families have become friends’: the thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the world edged closer toward destruction than at any other point in modern times. This occurred after an American reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Russian nuclear weapon sites were being built in Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around the island. The next phase was almost a fortnight filled with unbearable anxiety.

An Catastrophic Threat

The danger was clear. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade of global nuclear attacks and counterstrikes could have ensued, casting mankind into total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, through volumes, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel dimension into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders who, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What was the United States thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its attempt to question: "Why do nations hate one another and go against one another?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that people can be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired so publicly, people around the world were able to observe nearly in real time while it moved closer to catastrophe. However, the danger of destruction came closer than what most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have sunk our naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when many advisors around them demanded military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was the sense of hope.

A Different Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always fine and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that view was not held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed and well produced that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of America and USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Current Perils

Or is it? Part of why this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend