Following almost destroying our world, the relatives are allies’: a thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the planet veered closer toward ruin more so than ever during recent history. This transpired following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane identified that Russian atomic missile bases were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade around the island. The next phase constituted nearly two weeks of unbearable tension.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger was clear. If President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a cascade of global atomic attacks and counterstrikes could have followed, thrusting mankind into all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, through books, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a novel element into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders that, over 13 days, held the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What were the United States planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the show is its endeavor to question: "Why do individuals detest one another and go against one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that individuals have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently a writer and attorney. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to fight."

A Brink of Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens globally could watch almost in real time as it crept towards catastrophe. However, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than most people realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary fleet. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments was pushing for military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are always fine or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, however, that perspective was not shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we connected really well and now we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp