‘After nearly annihilating the planet, our families are friends’: the thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet came closer to annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This occurred when a US surveillance aircraft found that Russian nuclear missile installations were being built in Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. What followed was almost two weeks of impossible stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series involving worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes would have ensued, plunging humanity toward all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, in books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new dimension into the story. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures that, over two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Russians planning? What were the American side planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can individuals hate one another to the point they go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that humans can be allies or can become complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and now a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to fight."

The Brink of Disaster

What is remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people around the world could watch nearly in real time as it crept closer to catastrophe. However, the danger of annihilation came closer than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated the aircraft carriers and destroyed our primary fleet. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always wonderful or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation was not held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is a shame because we got along immediately and we are friends, which is really great. Finally, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn