John McCain: A Life of Service and Sacrifice

John McCain was an American politician and military officer who served as a United States Senator from Arizona from 1987 until his death in 2018. He was the Republican nominee for President of the United States in the 2008 election, which he lost to Barack Obama. McCain was a controversial figure, but he was also a respected and admired leader.

John McCain: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies)

by Elaine S. Povich

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1824 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	208 pages

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Early Life and Career

John Sidney McCain III was born on August 29, 1936, in the Panama Canal Zone. His father was a Navy admiral, and his mother was the daughter of a wealthy cotton planter. McCain attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 1958. He served as a pilot in the Navy during the Vietnam War, and he was shot down and captured by the North Vietnamese in 1967. He spent five and a half years as a prisoner of war, during which time he was tortured and beaten. McCain was released in 1973, and he retired from the Navy the following year.

Political Career

McCain entered politics in 1982, when he was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He served in the House for two terms, and he was elected to the United States Senate in 1986. McCain was a moderate Republican, and he was known for his willingness to work with Democrats on issues such as campaign finance reform and climate change. He was also a strong supporter of the military, and he played a key role in the development of the United States' missile defense system.

Presidential Campaign

In 2008, McCain was the Republican nominee for President of the United States. He ran on a platform of experience and national security, and he promised to bring change to Washington. McCain's opponent was Barack Obama, a young and charismatic Democrat. Obama won the election, but McCain received more than 47 million votes and lost by a narrow margin.

Later Career

After the election, McCain returned to the Senate and continued to serve as a respected leader. He was a key figure in the passage of the Affordable Care Act, and he also worked on issues such as immigration reform and nuclear non-proliferation. McCain was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2017, and he died on August 25, 2018, at the age of 81.

Legacy

John McCain was a complex and controversial figure, but he was also a man of great courage and character. He served his country with distinction in both war and peace, and he was a respected leader in both the military and the political arena. McCain's legacy is one of service and sacrifice, and he will be remembered as one of the most consequential figures in American history.

Image Sources

* John McCain official portrait, 115th Congress by Mandel Ngan [CC BY-SA 4.0] via Wikimedia Commons * John McCain in 2004 by Pete Soules [CC BY-SA 3.0] via Wikimedia Commons * John McCain (cropped) by Gage Skidmore [CC BY-SA 3.0] via Wikimedia Commons

John McCain: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies)

by Elaine S. Povich

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1824 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	208 pages

FREE