‘After almost annihilating the planet, the relatives are allies’: the thrilling podcast from JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the planet came nearer to destruction than at any other point during modern times. This happened following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being assembled on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to establish a naval blockade around the island. The next phase constituted almost 14 days of impossible tension.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained clear. If President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a series of global atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, casting mankind toward all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a novel element to this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders that, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What were Washington planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can nations hate each other and oppose one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that people can be allies or else can become complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide could watch almost in real time as it edged closer to armageddon. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've obliterated our naval vessels and destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to keep their heads while calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of events.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly fine and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of America and USSR would appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of progress.

"We aren't the first," notes Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame since we connected immediately and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we now are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend