John McCain

United States Senator of Arizona (R)

John McCain was born on August 29, 1936. He is most well known for his role in American politics. Considered a maverick Republican, McCain has been a U.S. Senator from Arizona since 1987, winning re-election in 1992, 1998, and 2004. He was a presidential candidate in the 2000 election, but was defeated in the Republican primaries by then-Texas Governor and now President George W. Bush.

Prior to entering national politics, McCain was a Captain in the United States Navy and a prisoner of war in Vietnam. He received an honorable discharge when he retired from the Navy in 1981.

A naval aviator, McCain was stationed aboard the USS Forrestal where, on July 29, 1967, he escaped death when a missile was accidentally launched across the ship, striking his A-4 Skyhawk. The impact ruptured the fuel tank on his aircraft and the leaking fuel instantly ignited. This series of events caused a bomb to be knocked into the fire. McCain escaped from his jet by climbing out of the cockpit, walking down to the nose of the plane, and jumping off the nose boom. A minute and a half after the impact, the bomb exploded underneath the plane, starting a major fire which killed 134 sailors and nearly threatened to destroy the ship.

McCain is one of only three Vietnam veterans serving in the US Senate. The other two veterans are fellow Republican Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Democrat John Kerry of Massachusetts.

In an interview in the June 2005 edition of Men's Journal magazine, McCain said that he "absolutely" would like to be President of the United States, but has yet to decide whether or not he will run again in 2008. He indicated that he would probably not make a firm decision until 2007 regarding another run at the White House, citing family and Senate responsibilities. By the time 2008 election season takes place, he will be 72. McCain will be 2 years older than the oldest elected president, Ronald Reagan, and has been dismissive of concerns regarding his age and past health concerns. McCain has stated that his physical health and condition were "excellent."

McCain does not fit neatly into any one political category. He takes a conservative stance on many military and fiscal issues, but is more liberal on social issues. Some Republicans, generally those who are social conservatives, have called him a Republican In Name Only. He once fought against funding the construction of a new aircraft carrier, saying the money should be spent on the 12,000 enlisted families who were on food stamps. He is strongly pro-life and equally strongly against tobacco. He openly supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq and his speech at the 2004 Republican National Convention centered around that theme. His appeal during the 2000 presidential campaign was based on honesty, style and personal image rather than any ideological label of liberal or conservative.

Because of his quick temper and independence in the Senate, he is sometimes called a "maverick senator." He fights against pork barrel spending and supports expanded legislation on health care and education. McCain was principally responsible for forcing a re-evaluation of the USAF KC-767 leasing contract. He criticized the Pentagon several times, also about troop strength in Iraq [2], which remains a strong position of his--that troop numbers be increased in Iraq. He has also been noted for opposition to President Bush's tax cuts.

Senator John McCain has eight children; McCain adopted his first wife Carol's sons, Doug and Andy. McCain and Carol also have a daughter, Sydney. McCain and his second wife, Cindy have four children: Meghan, Jack, Jimmy, and James. McCain and Cindy have also adopted another child, their youngest daughter, Bridget, after discovering her in a Bangladeshi orphanage run by Mother Teresa. McCain also has at least four grandchildren.