‘After nearly destroying our planet, our relatives have become friends’: a thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet veered nearer to destruction more so than ever during recent history. This happened when a US reconnaissance aircraft identified that Russian nuclear missile installations were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days filled with extreme tension.

An Catastrophic Threat

The threat remained obvious. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, thrusting civilization toward total destruction.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, through volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a novel dimension to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men who, for 13 days, controlled the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Russians planning? What were the American side considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do people detest one another and go against one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that individuals can be allies or else can become complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Disaster

What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired so publicly, people around the world were able to observe nearly in real time as it edged closer to catastrophe. Even so, the danger of destruction came closer than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would've sunk our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who managed to keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, and Nina being taught about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always wonderful and positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great moment it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided the war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame because we connected really well and we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our families have become allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to learn