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

In the month of October 1962, humanity came closer toward annihilation more so than ever during recent history. This transpired after an American surveillance aircraft identified that Soviet atomic weapon installations were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase was almost a fortnight of impossible tension.

An Catastrophic Threat

The danger remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series involving worldwide nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, thrusting civilization into total destruction.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, through volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented dimension into the story. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the men that, over two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Russians thinking? What was Washington thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show is its endeavor to question: "Why do nations hate each other to the point they go against one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that individuals can be allies or have the potential to be total enemies," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer and attorney. "We see this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to fight."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals globally were able to observe almost in real time while it moved towards armageddon. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have sunk our naval vessels and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them demanded action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of hope.

The Different Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly fine or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most significant aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact 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 aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate because we got along really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is because we once again are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend