McCain, John, 1936-2018

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John Sidney McCain III was born to John Sidney McCain (1911-1981) and Roberta (Wright) McCain (1912-) in the Panama Canal Zone on August 29, 1936. He attended school in Alexandria, Virginia and went on to graduate from the United States Naval Academy (1958) and the National War College (1973). McCain began his career as a naval aviator in 1958. On October 26, 1967 McCain was shot down over Hanoi during his 23rd bombing mission over North Vietnam. He was taken to the Hoa Lo Prison, nicknamed the Hanoi Hilton, and provided medical care only after his captors discovered that his father was an admiral. in December of 1967, McCain was transferred to a different camp on the outskirts of Hanoi. He was put in solitary confinement in March of 1968, where he remained for two years. His captors began torturing him in August of 1968 and McCain eventually made an anti-American propaganda confession . He was subsequently abused for refusing to sign additional statements. Life became more tolerable for the American POWs beginning in late 1969, and McCain was released in March of 1973.

After undergoing treatment for his injuries, McCain had his flight status reinstated in 1974 and became the commanding officer of a training squadron stationed in Florida. He became the Navy's liaison to the U.S. Senate beginning in 1977. In 1981, McCain retired from the Navy at the rank of captain in order to run for Congress. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1983 and served in the 98th and 99th Congresses. He was elected to the Senate in 1987, where he has served since. McCain earned a reputation as a maverick Republican and worked extensively to end pork barrel spending and enact campaign finance reform. During the early 2000s, McCain broke openly with President George W. Bush on such issues as HMO reform, climate change, and gun control. McCain made an unsuccessful bid for the Republican Party's presidential nomination in 2000 and ran for president unsuccessfully against Barack Obama in 2008.

McCain married Carol Shepp on July 3, 1965 and adopted her two young sons, Douglas and Andrew. The couple later had a daughter named Sidney. McCain met Cindy Lou Hensley in April of 1979 and convinced his current wife to grant him a divorce, which she did in April of 1980. The couple remained on good terms. McCain and Cindy Hensley married on May 17, 1980 and had four children: Meghan (1984-), John Sidney IV (1986-), James (1988), and Bridget (an abandoned Bangladeshi child who the couple adopted in 1991 at the age of 3 months).

From the guide to the Preliminary Inventory of the Representative John S. McCain Papers, 1966-1989, 1980-1989, (Arizona State University Libraries Arizona Collection)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn December 2000 - Quarterly (#6012) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Records of the Foreign Service Posts of the Department of State. 1788 - 1991. Classified Subject Files of Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker National Archives at College Park
referencedIn [John McCain 2008 presidential race : collection of campaign literature.] Michigan State University Libraries, Main Library
referencedIn Official Visits Files, 1971 - 1972 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Fifth Infantry Division Society. Fifth Infantry Division Society collection, 1945-1995. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
referencedIn LEG 311.A.1: To: John McCain, From: Michael Block, 29 May 1986 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
referencedIn Theodore Roosevelt Collection: Books, pamphlets, periodicals, 18-- - <ongoing> Theodore Roosevelt Collection, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Barack Obama collection. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn LEG 311.A.1: To: John McCain, From: Michael Block, 16 May 1988 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
referencedIn March 6, 1975 - Ford, Admiral John S. McCain Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn [104th Congress] McCain, Sen. John, Chmn. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn May 2004 (#6043) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Spencer, Elizabeth, 1921-. Elizabeth Spencer papers, 1911-2003 (bulk 1999-2003. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn LEG 311.A.1: To: John McCain, From: John Steer, 16 August 2000 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
referencedIn MCCAIN, JOHN R/AZ S PART 2 OF 2 1989-1991 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn MCCAIN, JOHN R/AZ PART 2 OF 6 1992 National Archives at College Park
creatorOf LEG 311.B.1: To: Michael Block, From: John McCain, 01 May 1986 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
creatorOf LEG 311.A.1: To: Michael Block, From: John McCain, 01 May 1986 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
referencedIn McCain, John S., Lt. Cdr. US Navy, Case 68 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records Relating to the Award of Medals to Prisoners of War Held by North Vietnam, ca. 3/1/1973 - ca. 5/1/1974 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn February 2000 - South Carolina Primary (#5756) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Keating Five Investigation: Senator John McCain Broadcast Segments National Archives at College Park
referencedIn LEG 311.A.1: To: John McCain, From: Michael Block, 25 September 1986 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
referencedIn Collection Number: 1849., 1905-2002, bulk 1977-1999 The Vietnam Center and Archive, Texas Tech University
referencedIn January 2000 (#6003) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn April 2002 (#6024) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn LEG 311.A.1: To: John McCain, From: Michael Block, 29 May 1986 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
referencedIn January 13-15, 2001 (#6013) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn July 1999 (#4099) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Newark Public Library. Barack Obama Election and Inauguration Collection 2008-2009 Newark Public Library, Main Library
referencedIn McCain, John Q and A William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Transmittal Letter to John McCain Regarding Section 842 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2008, 10/17/2008 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn [102nd Congress] McCain, Senator John RMM National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Republican Party (Ariz.). Arizona Republican Party, 1952-2001 1980s-1990s [manuscript]. Arizona State University Libraries
referencedIn Video Recordings Relating to Prisoners of War (POWs) and Soldiers Missing in Action (MIA), 1983 - 1992 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn July 2000 - Pre-Convention (#6007a) Gerald R. Ford Library
creatorOf Peniston, Robert C. Correspondence and memorabilia, 1976-1998. Washington & Lee University, James G. Leyburn Library
referencedIn [103rd Congress] McCain, Sen. John Vice Chmn. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn March 1999 (#4096) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn MCCAIN, JOHN R/AZ PART 3 OF 6 1992 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Ira Berkow, papers, undated, 1960-2011 American Jewish Historical Society
contributorOf Audio Recordings from the Senate Investigation of the Keating Five, 1989 - ca. 1991 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn 1993 Budget Request: Letter to the Honorable Robert Byrd and Non Nickles from Senator's Dan Inouye and John McCain National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Collection of Printed Material About the Political Campaigns and Elections of 2008 University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn January 2000 - New Hampshire Primary (#5719) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn August 2004 - Pre-Republican Convention (#6046) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn MCCAIN, JOHN R/AZ S PART 1 OF 2 1989-1991 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn LEG 311.A.1: To: John McCain, From: Michael Block, 25 July 1986 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Senate. 1789 - 2015. Committee Papers. 1885 - 2011. S. 277, A Bill to Authorize the Establishment of the National African American Museum Within the Smithsonian Institution Center for Legislative Archives
creatorOf McCain, John S., 1936-. John S. McCain : commercials, 1982-1986. University of Oklahoma, Political Community Archives
creatorOf Records of the U.S. Senate. 1789 - 2015. Committee Papers. 1885 - 2011. S. 277, A Bill to Authorize the Establishment of the National African American Museum Within the Smithsonian Institution Center for Legislative Archives
referencedIn MCCAIN, JOHN R/AZ PART 1 OF 6 1992 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn July 2004 (#6045) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn MCCAIN, JOHN R/AZ PART 5 OF 6 1992 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Lucian Perkins Photographic Archive 2008-246., 1979-2001 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn July 2002 (#6026) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn U.S. Presidential Election (2008) and Inauguration Collection, 2008-2009 UNF Library Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn [103rd Congress] McCain, Senator John Vice-Chmn. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn John W. Warner papers University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn March 2000 - Quarterly (#6004a) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Awards Case Files, 1/1966 - 12/1975 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn LEG 311.A.1: To: John McCain, From: Michael Block, 10 December 1986 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
referencedIn [105th Congress] McCain, Sen. John, Chmn. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn September 1999 (#6000) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn April 2001 (#6015) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn 12/19/2001 - Sen. John McCain, [Unprocessed and blanket closed pending completion and publication of a planned memoir], [Closed pending completion and publication of a planned memoir.] Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Office of the Administrator (Stephen L. Johnson) - League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) National Archives at College Park
referencedIn June 2000 - Quarterly (#6006) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn April 1999 (#4097) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn June 1999 - Quarterly (#4098) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn McCain, Admiral John S. Jr. Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 1773 - 2007. Records Concerning the Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn April 1998 (#4089) Gerald R. Ford Library
contributorOf Video Recordings from the Senate Investigation of Robert Packwood, 1989 - ca. 1991 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn University of Arizona. The Morris K. Udall oral history collection (1996-ongoing). University of Arizona Libraries
creatorOf Preliminary Inventory of the Representative John S. McCain Papers, 1966-1989, 1980-1989 Arizona State University Libraries Arizona Collection
referencedIn Gorrell, Bob. Original drawings for editorial cartoons ca. 1978-2001. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Families of Vietnamese Political Prisoners Association. Records, 1905-2002 1977-1999. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn [100th Congress] McCain, Co-Chmn. John National Archives at College Park
referencedIn September 2000 - Quarterly (#6008) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Secretary of the Interior. 1826 - 2009. Photographs Documenting the Secretary's Activities, and Agency Officials, Events, Programs, and Managed Sites National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Thieboud, James. Town hall meeting with U.S. Senator John McCain, April 24, 2008, at Xavier University of Louisiana [videorecording] / [recorded by James Thieboud, Media Center, Xavier University of Louisiana] Xavier University of Louisiana, XULA
referencedIn Records Relating to the 21st Century Concept, Force Readiness, and Senator John McCain, 1991 - 1997 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn December 1999 - Quarterly (#6002) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn MCCAIN, JOHN R/AZ PART 6 OF 6 1992 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Dennis DeConcini Papers University of Arizona Libraries
referencedIn March 2000 (#6004b) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Audio Recordings from the Senate Investigation of the Keating Five, 1989 - ca. 1991 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Video Recordings from the Senate Investigation of Robert Packwood, 1989 - ca. 1991 National Archives at College Park
creatorOf LEG 311.A.1: To: William Wilkins, From: John McCain, 03 May 1990 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
referencedIn Perkins, Lucian,. Perkins, Lucian, photographic archive, 1979-2001. University of Texas Libraries
December 1999 - Quarterly (#6002) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn January 1999 (#4095) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Brown, Rita Mae. Rita Mae Brown papers [manuscript], 2000?-2009? University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Secretary of the Interior. Photographs Relating to the Secretary's Trips, Speeches, and Other Functions, and Agency Officials, Events, and Managed Sites. 2002-2013. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn June 2000 - Quarterly (#6006) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn October 2000 (#6009) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn June 2001 (#6016) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Representative Files: McCain, John (Arizona), 1983 - 1987 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn August 1996 (#4071) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Statement of Sen. John McCain Dec. 8, 1994 Meeting with Arizona Indian Tribes William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Bustamante, Albert Garza,. Oral history interview with Albert Garza Bustamante, 2004 [videorecording]. University of Texas at Arlington, Central Library
referencedIn April/May 2000 (#6005) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn MCCAIN, JOHN R/AZ PART 4 OF 6 1992 National Archives at College Park
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Digital Photographs Relating to Agency Officials, Events and Activities, 5/2000 - 5/2015 National Archives at College Park
Relation Name
associatedWith Berkow, Ira person
associatedWith Brown, Rita Mae. person
associatedWith Bustamante, Albert Garza, person
associatedWith DeConcini, Dennis. person
associatedWith Families of Vietnamese Political Prisoners Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Fifth Infantry Division Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Gorrell, Bob. person
grandchildOf McCain, John Sidney, 1884-1945 person
childOf McCain, John S. (John Sidney), 1911-1981 person
politicalOpponentOf Obama, Barack, 1961- person
associatedWith Palin, Sarah, 1964-.... person
associatedWith Peniston, Robert C. person
associatedWith Perkins, Lucian person
associatedWith Republican Party (Ariz.) corporateBody
associatedWith Spencer, Elizabeth, 1921- person
memberOf United States. Congress. House corporateBody
memberOf United States. Congress. Senate corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf United States Naval Academy corporateBody
memberOf United States. Navy corporateBody
associatedWith University of Arizona. corporateBody
associatedWith Warner, John W., 1927- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Washington, D. C. DC US
Pensacola FL US
Canal Zone
Alexandria VA US
Annapolis MD US
Socialist Republic of Vietnam 00 VN
Phoenix AZ US
Subject
Advertising, political
Television advertising
Occupation
Air pilots, Military
Legislators
Presidential candidates
Senator
Activity

Person

Birth 1936-08-29

Death 2018-08-25

Male

Americans

English

Information

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Ark ID: w6tz44nm

SNAC ID: 84225061