‘After nearly annihilating our planet, the families have become allies’: the gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the world edged nearer to destruction more so than ever during recent history. This transpired following the discovery that a US surveillance plane found that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were being assembled on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine around the island. The ensuing period constituted almost 14 days filled with impossible tension.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a series of global nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, thrusting civilization toward total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined extensively, in books, movies, and television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a novel element into the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the men that, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What was the American side thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "How can nations detest one another and go against one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that people can be allies or else can become total enemies," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What’s notable regarding this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals around the world could watch nearly in real time as it moved closer to disaster. Even so, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would've sunk the naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina learned about it through the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided the war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that view was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is a shame since we got along really well and we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp