‘After almost destroying the planet, our families have become allies’: the thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, humanity veered nearer to annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This transpired after an American surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet atomic missile bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval quarantine encircling the island. The next phase constituted almost 14 days filled with impossible stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, thrusting humanity into all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a completely new element to this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the figures that, for 13 days, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What were the American side considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can people hate each other and confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that humans can be friends or else can become total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s remarkable regarding this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals globally were able to observe almost as it happened while it moved towards disaster. However, the threat of destruction came closer than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would have obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, for those two weeks in October, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Nina learned about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly wonderful or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that view would not be held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of progress.

"We aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 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 Max. "Which is unfortunate since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Current Perils

Or is it? Part of why this series feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp