{"id":21869,"date":"2018-08-26T00:43:59","date_gmt":"2018-08-26T00:43:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/08\/26\/john-mccain-war-hero-political-giant-dies-at-81\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:37:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:37:30","slug":"john-mccain-war-hero-political-giant-dies-at-81","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/congress\/2018\/08\/26\/john-mccain-war-hero-political-giant-dies-at-81\/","title":{"rendered":"John McCain \u2014 war hero, political giant \u2014 dies at 81"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In remembrance of Sen. John McCain, 1936 – 2018, Navy pilot, statesman, maverick.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 Arizona Sen. John McCain<\/a>, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam who became one of the nation\u2019s most prominent defense policy <\/a>voices, passed away <\/a>Saturday at the age of 81.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The onetime Navy pilot and longtime lawmaker was among the best known veterans in America, and has arguably been the most influential and consistent military advocate <\/a>for the Republican Party over the last three decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His death not only leaves open a Republican seat in an already contentious Senate but also leaves an enormous hole in American political debate over the roles, responsibilities and challenges of the armed forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an October 2017 speech to students at his alma mater \u2014 the Naval Academy<\/a> \u2014 McCain commented that he had worked as a public servant nearly his entire adult life \u201csometimes unwittingly and often imperfectly.\u201d He said the thought of helping promote America gave him a sense of purpose and honor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEven in the worst of times \u2014 and they come for most of us \u2014 you\u2019ll know that to serve this country is to serve its ideals, the ideals that consider every child on Earth as made in the image of God and endowed with dignity and the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is a noble cause. It is your cause, and it\u2019s worth living and dying for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n