Advertisement

Close this content

These Photos Vividly Show John McCain the War Hero, Senator, and Presidential Candidate

The Esquire Editors

August 26, 2018 at 7:00 AM

<p>Senator John McCain died Saturday at his home in Arizona. He was 81 and had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 2017. His daughter, Meghan McCain, <a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://twitter.com/GMA/status/1033519711118680064" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:issued a statement;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">issued a statement</a> shortly after his death, in which she said: "In this loss, and in this sorrow, I take comfort in this: John McCain, hero of the republic and to his little girl, wakes today to something more glorious than anything on this earth." The following 50 photos offer a glimpse of McCain's extraordinary life as a war hero, U.S. senator, and presidential candidate. </p>

<p>An undated portrait of John McCain in the U.S. Navy.</p>

<p>McCain in a Hanoi hospital during the Vietnam War in November 1967. McCain, a Navy pilot, was taken prisoner and held for five and a half years. Two of those years were spent in solitary confinement. </p>

<p>McCain in a Hanoi hospital. During his captivity, McCain was tortured frequently, his weight fell to 105 pounds, and he twice attempted suicide, <a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/25/obituaries/john-mccain-dead.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:according to The New York Times;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">according to <em>The New York Times</em></a>. </p>

<p>McCain is escorted by Lt. Cmdr. Jay Coupe Jr. on March 14, 1973, to Hanoi's Gia Lam Airport after his release. </p>

<p>McCain smiles from a bus window on arrival at Clark Air Base in the Philippines, after his release from Hanoi on March 14, 1973.</p>

<p>McCain sits for an interview on April 24, 1973, one month after his release from a Hanoi prison. </p>

<p>President Richard Nixon shakes hands with McCain during a reception in Washington, D.C., on May 24, 1973. </p>

<p>McCain, a guest of the South Vietnamese government, visits an orphanage that cares for children fathered by American soldiers in Saigon, Vietnam, on October 30, 1974. </p>

<p>McCain meets with President Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office on July 31, 1986. He served two terms in the House of Representatives, from 1983 until 1987, when he was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served until his death. </p>

<p>McCain poses in the Russell Senate Office Building in July 1996.</p>

<p>McCain gets a haircut in his hotel prior to the start of the opening sessions of the Republican National Convention in San Diego on August 12, 1996.</p>

<p>Senator John Kerry chats with McCain in Washington, D.C., in 1997. </p>

<p>McCain talks to his wife, Cindy, on speaker phone from his D.C. office in 1998. </p>

<p>McCain chairs a Senate Commerce Committee meeting in 1999. </p>

<p>McCain, who sought the Republican nomination for president in 2000, announces his official bid for the White House in Nashua, New Hampshire, in September 1999. </p>

<p>McCain laughs after having a taste of Nutfield Brewery's Primary Pale Ale during a campaign visit to the Derry, New Hampshire brewery in September 1999. </p>

<p>McCain campaigning in 1999.</p>

<p>McCain on his campaign bus, "The Straight Talk Express," on January 7, 2000 in Columbia, South Carolina.</p>

<p>McCain gets made up to appear on <em>Face the Nation </em>on January 9, 2000.</p>

<p>John McCain campaigns in front of a Dartmouth College frat house, on January 31, 2000 in Hanover, New Hampshire.</p>

<p>McCain on his campaign bus with his family: (L-R) son Jack, wife Cindy, daughter Bridget, son Jimmy and daughter Meghan, on January 31, 2000 in Keene, New Hampshire. </p>

<p>McCain shakes hands with World War II veteran Paul Metcalf after a town hall meeting at Salem High School in Salem, Massachusetts on Jan. 23, 2000.</p>

<p>McCain hugs Vietnam veteran David Wooldridge outside of a VFW during a campaign stop in Franklin, New Hampshire on January 30, 2000. McCain withdrew from the race in March 2000. Two months later he endorsed George W. Bush for president. </p>

<p>McCain and his wife, Cindy, smile for the camera at their family ranch on March 9, 2000, near Sedona, Arizona.</p>

<p>McCain campaigns with Mitt Romney, who was running for governor of Massachusetts, at Fort Independence in South Boston, on October 30, 2002.</p>

<p>McCain addresses delegates during the first day of the 2004 Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden in New York City. </p>

<p>McCain at a town hall meeting at Local 32BJ SEIU Auditorium on February 27, 2006 in New York City.</p>

<p>McCain and Rev. Jerry Falwell at Liberty University's graduation ceremony in Lynchburg, Virginia in May 2006.</p>

<p>McCain campaigns with Senator Joseph Lieberman at Mary Ann's Diner in Derry, New Hampshire on January 2, 2008, the day before the Iowa caucuses. McCain sought the White House again in 2008 as the Republican nominee for president. </p>

<p>McCain appears at a town meeting during a campaign stop in Rochester, New Hampshire on July 22, 2008.</p>

<p>McCain and his vice presidential running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. Minnesota on September 4, 2008. Two months later, Barack Obama defeated McCain in the general election. </p>

<p>The Dalai Lama greets McCain during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on October 6, 2009 in Washington, D.C. </p>

<p>McCain greets patrons at VFW Post #1677 during a campaign stop on April 24, 2010 in Casa Grande, Arizona. </p>

<p>McCain is joined by former Massachusetts Republican governor Mitt Romney as he speaks during a town hall meeting during a campaign stop at Mesa High School June 4, 2010 in Mesa, Arizona.</p>

<p>McCain and his wife Cindy greet supporters during a visit to a campaign office one day before Arizona's primary election on August 23, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. </p>

<p>McCain announces that he is endorsing Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney during a town hall meeting on January 4, 2012 in Manchester, New Hampshire.</p>

<p>McCain appears on <em>The Tonight Show With Jay Leno</em> on February 29, 2012.</p>

<p>Vice President Joe Biden chats with McCain at the 49th Munich Security Conference on February 2, 2013.</p>

<p>Prince Harry greets McCain while arriving on Capitol Hill during the first day of his visit to the United States on May 9, 2013.</p>

<p>President Obama meets with McCain, Senator Lindsey Graham, and National Security Advisor Susan Rice in the Oval Office to discuss strategy in Syria on September 2, 2013.</p>

<p>McCain prepares to greet supporters during a Veterans rally for U.S. Senate candidate and U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy at the American Legion Post on October 13, 2014 in Covington, Louisiana.</p>

<p>McCain and his daughter, Meghan McCain, attend the 100th Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on May 3, 2014 in Washington, D.C.</p>

<p>McCain, who was chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, talks with reporters after the National Defense Authorization Act passed 93-1 at the U.S. Capitol on November 10, 2015. </p>

<p>McCain and Senator Bernie Sanders arrive at the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017, for the inauguration ceremony of Donald Trump.</p>

<p>McCain talks with reporters before a vote in the Senate where they invoked the "nuclear option," which allows for a majority vote to confirm a Supreme Court justice nominee on April 6, 2017.</p>

<p>McCain talks with Senators Ben Sasse and Tom Cotton on Capitol Hill on May 18, 2017.</p>

<p>McCain looks at the Roll of Honour after the Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia on May 2017.</p>

<p>McCain with NATO soldiers in Kabul, Afghanistan on July 4, 2017. </p>

<p>McCain is swarmed by reporters as he leaves a meeting on Capitol Hill on July 13, 2017. </p>

<p>McCain takes an elevator to the U.S. Capitol on July 26, 2017.</p>

Senator John McCain died Saturday at his home in Arizona. He was 81 and had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 2017. His daughter, Meghan McCain, issued a statement shortly after his death, in which she said: "In this loss, and in this sorrow, I take comfort in this: John McCain, hero of the republic and to his little girl, wakes today to something more glorious than anything on this earth." The following 50 photos offer a glimpse of McCain's extraordinary life as a war hero, U.S. senator, and presidential candidate.

PAUL J. RICHARDS - Getty Images

McCain died Saturday at the age of 81.

SportsYahoo Sports
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross reportedly declined $10 billion for team, stadium and F1 race
The value of the Dolphins and Formula One racing is enormous.
SportsYahoo Sports
Welcome to the WNBA: Caitlin Clark's regular-season debut is anything but easy
Clark set the Indiana Fever’s franchise record for turnovers (10), shot 5-of-15 from the floor and struggled with the Connecticut Sun’s physical defense.
SportsYahoo Sports
2024 NBA Mock Draft 7.0: Who will the Hawks take at No. 1? Our projections for every pick with lottery order now set
With the lottery order set, here's a look at Yahoo Sports' projections for both rounds of the 2024 NBA Draft.
SportsYahoo Sports
What scouts think of Bronny James' NBA prospects
The biggest question looming over the NBA draft combine this week: How will Bronny James do?
SportsYahoo Sports
Fox Sports host Doug Gottlieb hired as Green Bay's coach, will reportedly still host radio show
Gottlieb's repeatedly courted controversy in his media role and will reportedly continue to host his nationally syndicated radio show while coaching Green Bay.
SportsYahoo Sports
Rory McIlroy files for divorce from wife Erica after seven years of marriage
On the eve of the PGA Championship, Rory McIlroy has filed for divorce from his wife, Erica.
SportsYahoo Sports
The Spin: Making a call on 5 slumping fantasy baseball stars
All five of these hitters were drafted highly in fantasy baseball leagues. So far, they have not lived up to their ADPs — and that's an understatement. Scott Pianowski analyzes.
SportsYahoo Sports
Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco ejected after foreign substance check early in win over A's
Ronel Blanco, who threw a no-hitter earlier this year, is now likely facing a 10-game suspension.
SportsYahoo Sports
Where does Jared Goff’s $212M extension leave Dak Prescott and Cowboys?
In one scenario, Dallas makes Prescott the highest paid player in NFL history. In another, the Cowboys decline that commitment, at which point another team will make him the top paid player in NFL history.
BusinessYahoo Finance
Utility stocks are on fire — here are Wall Street analysts' top picks
Utility stocks are outperforming the broader markets. Here's a look at three top picks from analysts.