‘After nearly destroying our world, the families have become allies’: a gripping audio series featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world veered closer toward ruin than at any other point in modern times. This transpired after an American surveillance aircraft found the fact that Russian nuclear missile sites were under construction on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period was almost a fortnight of extreme stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat was palpable. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a series involving worldwide atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, thrusting mankind into all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, in volumes, films, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a completely new dimension into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the figures who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What were the United States thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic of global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to question: "Why do people detest each other to the point they confront one another?"

"It struck me how profound it is that people have the potential to be allies or else can become total enemies," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What is notable regarding this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally were able to observe nearly as it happened while it crept closer to disaster. Even so, the risk of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have obliterated the naval vessels and sunk America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about it via the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly fine and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, though, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of hope.

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

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following almost 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to learn