John McCain (R-Ariz.) has died at age 81 after his battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor. McCain is remembered by many as a political powerhouse who consistently put what he believed was best for his country before anything else. An upcoming TIME magazine special edition about the life of the late John McCain paints a portrait of a true American hero.
His path into the United States military began at a young age. As the son and grandson of two Navy Admirals, he followed gallantly in their footsteps into the naval service when he was commissioned as a Navy pilot. He graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1958 and headed to flight school in Pensacola, Florida.
Early in his career, he was not known for his discipline or for his ability to follow orders without question. In a 2017 speech, McCain told the Naval Academy midshipmen that his “[superiors’] disapproval was measured in the hundreds of miles of extra duty I marched in my time here.” Nevertheless, he continued on to serve his country and ultimately uphold its highest traditions of loyalty.
The Naval Academy is mourning the loss of one of our most distinguished graduates, Sen. John McCain (USNA ‘58). His life of service to our country is a legacy that will continue to be revered. #USNavy #usna #Military #midshipmen
— U.S. Naval Academy (@NavalAcademy) August 26, 2018
As a Naval Aviator, he sought to prove himself in combat. He constantly worked to demonstrate that he was more than just the son and grandson of two Admirals. He felt that he needed to overcome his less-than-stellar reputation for not being serious, as well as live up to his family’s high expectations. This drive brought him to combat missions in Vietnam.
In October 1967, McCain was shot down while conducting missions over Hanoi, Vietnam. With numerous broken bones, he was pulled from Truc Bach Lake and taken to the infamous prison Hoa Lò, also known as the Hanoi Hilton. He was refused medical care because he did not cooperate with his captors. His cellmates were not sure that he would survive. His injuries were eventually treated when his captors realized that McCain was a potentially valuable political prisoner.
During his more than 5 years at the Hanoi Hilton, McCain repeatedly refused preferential release or any special treatment due to his family connection to military leadership. As he had been trained to do, he only provided his name, rank, and serial number.
Upon his release, John McCain entered the political arena in his home state of Arizona full of patriotic fervor for the country to which he had been unwaveringly loyal for so many years while imprisoned. He was determined not to make his time in the Hanoi Hilton what he was known for; he sought to be a force that would make this country better.
McCain served in both the House and Senate for the state of Arizona. He became a fixture of the Republican Party and was known for his ability to reach across the aisle while holding to his core values. He had two unsuccessful Presidential runs in 2000 and 2008, but brought attention to issues with which he had strong personal connections. He was famously against enhanced interrogation techniques, counter to the Republican Party’s view. As a former Prisoner of War, he spoke from a place of experience on the issue, which earned him respect among his colleagues.
Of his political rivalry with Presidential opponent Barack Obama, he had words of respect and admiration that would characterize his ability to put country before political party.
“Despite our differences, much more unites us than divides us,” he said of then-Senator Obama when accepting the 2008 Republican nomination for President of the United States. “We are fellow Americans, and that’s an association that means more to me than any other. We’re dedicated to the proposition that all people are created equal and endowed by our creator with inalienable rights. No country—no country ever had a greater cause than that.”
Upon learning of McCain’s death, Barack Obama responded with praise of the Republican’s long career and character.
“Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did,” Obama tweeted. “But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At John’s best, he showed us what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt.”
Our statement on the passing of Senator John McCain: pic.twitter.com/3GBjNYxoj5
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 26, 2018
McCain’s death comes at a time of great political division.
The Senator had an ongoing battle with President Trump over everything from legislation to personal remarks. The Washington Post recently published a summary of the back-and-forth between the two political leaders. McCain called Trump’s experience and lack of military service into question. He was also concerned about Trump’s interactions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling their recent meeting “one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory” on Twitter.
Trump said that McCain failed to support him and his agenda. He criticized McCain’s unsuccessful Presidential bid, as well as his capture in Vietnam. These criticisms were unpopular with Republicans and Democrats alike.
Standing on the Senate floor for the final time, McCain called on his fellow legislators to “learn how to trust each other again and by so doing better serve the people who elected us.” With visible scars from his medical treatment, McCain never faltered or failed to challenge his colleagues to do better.
John McCain leaves a legacy of heroic military service and was the rarest of people in Washington—a politician who consistently acted in what he believed was the best interest of our nation, regardless of party or political pressures. Not everyone agreed with his priorities or legislation, but he knew that and accepted it as part of the political game.
McCain always fought for what he believed would help the United States thrive and prosper. He worked with Republicans and Democrats to move America forward. His time as a prisoner of war showed the steel of his character and loyalty to his country. His 36 years of service in the Legislative branch demonstrated his dedication to the future of his country. And his legacy will be exactly as he told New York Times reporter Sheryl Gay Stolberg he hoped it would be: “He served his country.”
