John McCain

1936 – 2018

John Sidney McCain III was an American politician and naval aviator who represented Arizona in the U.S. Congress for over 35 years, first as a representative from 1983 to 1987 and then as a senator from 1987 until his death in 2018. After being shot down over Hanoi in 1967 he survived more than five years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, refusing early release until his fellow captives could be freed. The Republican nominee in the 2008 presidential election, he was widely respected for his independent streak, including his decisive 2017 vote that preserved the Affordable Care Act.

Last checked: May 10, 2026, 1:06 PM