How a prisoner of war became a defining voice in American political life

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: John McCain transitioned from a naval aviator and prisoner of war in Hanoi to a long-serving U.S. senator. Known as a maverick for his willingness to challenge his own party, he navigated scandals, presidential campaigns, and critical legislative battles, leaving a complex legacy that spanned over three decades in Congress.

Born in 1936 at a naval installation in the Panama Canal Zone, John McCain followed his father and grandfather into the U.S. Navy. After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1958, he became a pilot. His military service was marked by harrowing experiences, including surviving a 1967 fire on the USS Forrestal and being shot down over Hanoi later that year. As a prisoner of war for five and a half years, he endured severe torture and refused early release, adhering to the military code that required prisoners to be freed in the order they were captured.

McCain retired from the Navy in 1981 and moved to Arizona, where he launched a political career. Elected to the House of Representatives in 1982 and the Senate in 1986, he quickly established himself as a significant figure. While generally conservative, he earned a reputation as a maverick for breaking with his party on issues like campaign finance reform, which culminated in the 2002 McCain-Feingold Act. His career was not without controversy; in the late 1980s, he was investigated as one of the Keating Five, though he was ultimately cleared of wrongdoing by the Senate Ethics Committee.

His national profile grew through his 2000 presidential bid and his successful 2008 nomination as the Republican candidate. Despite losing the general election to Barack Obama, he remained a powerful force in the Senate, chairing the Armed Services Committee starting in 2015. Known for his independence, he famously cast the deciding vote against the 2017 American Health Care Act. Following a diagnosis of glioblastoma, he focused on treatment until his death in 2018, ending a career defined by both his military sacrifice and his persistent, often contrarian, legislative influence.

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