‘After almost destroying the world, our relatives are allies’: a thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world veered nearer to ruin more so than ever during modern times. This happened when a US surveillance aircraft found that Russian nuclear missile sites were being built on Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine around the island. The next phase constituted almost 14 days filled with extreme anxiety.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat was clear. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a cascade involving global nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, casting civilization toward all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, through volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents an unprecedented perspective to the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders that, for 13 days, controlled the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What was Washington planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do nations detest one another to the point they oppose each other?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be total enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals around the world could watch almost as it happened as it edged towards armageddon. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would've sunk the naval vessels as well as destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them was pushing for military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different version of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, though, that view was not shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of hope.

"We are not the first," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we connected really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become friends, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to learn