‘After nearly destroying the world, the families have become allies’: a thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world edged closer to ruin more so than ever in modern times. This transpired when an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet nuclear missile installations were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period was nearly two weeks of impossible stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger was clear. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a cascade of global nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, thrusting humanity toward all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, through volumes, movies, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a novel dimension to the story. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders that, over 13 days, controlled the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Russians considering? What was the United States thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to question: "How can nations hate each other and confront each other?"

"It struck me how profound it is that humans have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable about this event was that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens globally were able to observe almost in real time while it crept towards catastrophe. Even so, the danger of destruction came closer than most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina learned about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine and sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great moment it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our families are now friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend