John McCain — Profile, Rankings & Fame Trend

Summary

Updated 2026-06-21

The Arizona senator who spent five years as a prisoner of war in Hanoi, then built a 35-year congressional career on breaking ranks with his own party when his conscience demanded it — even when it cost him.

Biography

About

Born into a Navy family in the Panama Canal Zone in 1936, McCain graduated from the Naval Academy in 1958 and flew ground-attack aircraft off carriers during Vietnam. Shot down over Hanoi in October 1967, he was captured, tortured, and held until 1973; he refused early release and left with lifelong injuries. He retired as a Navy captain in 1981, moved to Arizona, and entered Congress in 1983, serving two terms in the House before winning a Senate seat in 1987. Over six terms he earned a "maverick" label for moderate stances on campaign finance, LGBT rights, and gun regulations, co-authoring t…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from John McCain

John McCain

said9 Nov 1999

Glory is not a conceit. It is not a decoration for valor.

— As quoted in "Faith of My Fathers" (9 November 1999).

John McCain

said6 May 1999

War is wretched beyond description, and only a fool or a fraud could sentimentalize its cruel reality.

— Speech to the American Red Cross "Promise of Humanity" conference (6 May 1999).

John McCain

said8 Jun 1998

Like every other 13-year-old in America, she's in love with Leonardo DiCaprio, who I think is an androgynous wimp. You know what he does throughout the whole movie Titanic?

— On his daughter, in The Washington Post (8 June 1998)

John McCain

saidJun 1998