US Senator McCain: biography, family and achievements

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:47

U. S. Senator John McCain, as a person, has become a kind of cliché in public politics, causing a programmed attitude and misunderstanding among ordinary citizens. But a smart person will still think, analyze and understand that the significance of a politician of such magnitude should not be underestimated. And it would be more correct to think about what exactly they show us and why. After all, it is bright, unusual and unpredictable behavior that attracts a lot of attention, and also allows you to "break through walls" through which composure and restraint cannot break through. But it is not so easy to understand such an abundance of available sources. Sites just with a bang give out any information for every taste and color. They do not disdain even such unconfirmed announcements as "Senator McCain is dead."

But let's try to figure everything out in order and approach the question: who is he, thisemotional and not always tactful senator, with journalistic impartiality and meticulousness to details.

Senator John McCain: biography

The name of John McCain is no longer known to the first generation of Americans, although earlier it caused more association with the American army. The previous two generations of John McCains were famous for their successful military careers. Both the father and grandfather of the current senator rose to the ranks of four-star admirals in the US Army. But with such high political attributes as US Senator John McCain, this name appears in history for the first time. But this is a little later. And first, at the US Air Force base in the Panama Canal Zone, on August 29, 1936, little Johnny Jr. was born.

The manifestation of the extraordinary heredity of young Johnny was not long in coming. Although in a strange way it showed itself not in the boy's abilities, but in his difficult character and just in the absolute absence of discipline inherent in the military. But the desire to be a leader, to crave constant victories, to be in the center of attention and success forced the athletic boy to seek self-realization in sports. For a self-centered, aggressive and dominating guy, wrestling has become the best sport. But even such opportunities could not satisfy the inner needs of a real fighter, so Johnny did not connect his further path with sports.

Soldier's family

The family and everyday life of the military admiral - Johnny's father, is already about many thingsspeak for themselves. Constant moving, a narrow and definite circle of contacts, imprints of position and army discipline, military camps and the absolute absence of a quiet family life could not but affect the formation of the child's personality. Psychologists believe that certain features of the formation of the child's psyche most clearly affect decision-making, prioritization, manifestations of features in the character traits and behavior of an adult. And the picture of the boy's family life is not the most calm and optimistic. And how does Senator McCain cope with this all his life? His biography without this early period would not be complete.

However, to say that the features of the experience gained in childhood will exclusively influence the entire adult life of a person will also be very far from the truth. After all, an adult is capable and simply obliged to work on himself, to engage in self-education. All this allows not only to overcome biological and negative manifestations acquired in childhood, but even to turn them to your advantage and melt them into pluses on the way to achieving your goals. And for a man like Senator McCain, fortunately, this feature has already become quite inherent in a more mature age. Therefore, the explosiveness and aggression that are in the character of such a popular senator, in his youth were the cause of considerable troubles, but today they have acquired vivid, memorable features of a politician, and undoubtedly lead to success.

The beginning of a pilot's career

But in his youth, Johnny not onlygave hope for a good future, but also brought a lot of grief, worries and often created the need to connect military ties and the authority of the father and grandfather, so as not to lose the chance to receive a decent education. Therefore, he graduated from the Naval Academy with great difficulty. The young man falls under the most prestigious distribution. He becomes an officer and pilot of military aircraft on an aircraft carrier. Further training of pilots of this category should last another two and a half years. And if US Senator McCain left the details of the countless childhood adventures with his family and loved ones, then many unflattering facts are known from the subsequent period of his life. For example, sinking a military aircraft into the sea is no joke. But it’s also quite easy to get off - also a talent, more precisely, the father’s family support. This fact was the reason for John's transfer to Europe, to a summer school for an attack pilot, but did not break the young man's career. And this is not the only oversight of the pilot. After three more such incidents (and each time with a successful ejection), McCain decides to ask for Vietnam.

This and similar well-known stories about McCain testify mainly to one thing - the turbulent youth of a young man of high position was carried out according to the principle "you need to try everything" and do not worry about anything. Of course, you can say that this is a waste of he alth and young years. But is it in vain? After all, in fact, this is a kind of youthful experience that allows a person to grow up and tame himself. Only one people are enough modest and lessplentiful adventures, but few for others and the whole world. And do not forget that it was impossible to do without female participation.

McCain's first marriage

Indulging in wide pleasures in the arms of the female representatives, not disdaining at the same time even a certain occupation, the young officer nevertheless tried to settle down. At 28, he met Carol Shepp, a beautiful Philadelphia model, and a year later they were married. For Carol, this was already the second marriage, and from the first marriage with classmate John, she had two sons, whom the future Senator McCain adopted. A year later, the newlyweds had a daughter, Sidney. But the scorcher by the age of thirty, having acquired the status of a loving spouse and father of the family, still did not want to cool down. Therefore, the very next year, 1967, Johnny took part in the Vietnam War as a pilot on an aircraft carrier.

Vietnam War

It was not without incident again. Well-wishers attribute the blame to Johnny, although official figures do not support this. But it is worth noting that the fire on the aircraft carrier, the death of 21 combat aircraft, as well as 134 crew members of the future senator were not hooked. However, the war cannot but take and break the lives of even such extraordinary personalities as US Senator McCain. His plane was shot down over Hanoi, and the pilot himself ended up in a POW prison for five years.

But the lucky star over John, or rather, the father-admiral again caused a special attitude towards his son, even from the enemy. But whether it is worth rejoicing at this or upset, judge for yourself. Upon learning that the captured pilot was the son of a US Air Force admiral, the Vietnamese forces decided to use this in their political game. Whoever and whatever tells, and the fact that John tried to say goodbye to life in the cell, and also turned gray prematurely, says one thing that this experience was not easy for him. There is evidence that such a valuable prisoner was treated not the worst, and without physical violence or atrocities. But after all, the biggest shocks for a person can be provoked by absolutely not physical influence and not even so much by mental violence (although it is difficult to imagine captivity that can avoid both the first and second), but by some internal overcoming.

Return from captivity

Upon returning to his homeland after five and a half years, McCain was given a disappointing medical diagnosis. After an unfortunate crash in Vietnam, serious injuries to the arm and leg cannot be completely cured. Doctors predicted that future Senator John McCain would never be able to fly again. The biography of a military pilot on this, you can be sure, has come to an end. But such a sentence aroused in the young McCain only a desire to once again show his rebellious disposition and firmness of character. He still independently raised the plane into the sky and again caused its crash, once again successfully catapulting. This fact did not entail any special consequences, but the position of the pilot still had to be abandoned.

Second marriage of a senator

Returning from captivity, John did notwas able to renew his relationship with his wife, but sincerely felt guilty. No matter how strange it may sound, but for such an aggressive and restless person, admitting one's guilt looks like a heroic act. Not everyone will be able to say for himself, as Senator McCain later wrote, that such a step was caused by his own selfishness, as well as immaturity in understanding the situation. The very recognition of one's mistakes already characterizes a person from the best side. And for a person like John, such recognition speaks of personal growth, inner activity and the desire to move forward and improve oneself.

So, in 1980, the McCains officially divorced, but John continued to support his ex-wife in her long treatment after a car accident, and also left her both houses. But, obviously, there was another reason for this, since a month later John got married to a teacher from Arizona - Cindy Lou Hensley. Although it should be clarified that the new relatives were very we althy businessmen. For five years, the couple had a daughter and two sons, who in the future continued the military traditions of the McCain family. A vividly characterizing fact was the desire of the McCains to adopt a seriously ill newborn child from Bangladesh in the early nineties. Undoubtedly, the initiative belonged mainly to the wife. But it is also worth noting that (already at that time Senator) John McCain never stood aside in matters relating to children.

Achievements of Officer John McCain

After Vietnam to McCaingot the post of officer for relations of the Navy with the Senate. He served here until his full retirement in 1981. Despite all the losses and troubles of his youth, Senator McCain has an impressive list of military awards: the Bronze Star and Silver Star orders, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Order of Military Merit, and the Purple Heart. It is worth noting that McCain is in the top ten richest senators, although this is not so much his merit as a solid dowry of his wife. Cindy inherited her father's beer company.

Also, the senator's achievements include writing several books, albeit in collaboration with his assistant, Mark S alter. Agree that having such a temperament, writing a book is a true achievement, even if it is co-authored with an assistant. In addition, McCain's autobiography "The Faith of My Fathers" became a real bestseller.

The beginning of a political career

After his resignation, John was able to devote himself to his father-in-law's beer business for a short time, but thanks to the support of the latter, he entered the political arena. Just a year later, in 1982, as a member of the Republican Party, McCain entered the House of Representatives. And in 1986, already as a senator from the state of Arizona, John McCain achieved real political heights. But even here, the inexhaustible energy of an already middle-aged, but unprecedentedly active person did not allow him to sit still. By 2000 McCain is running for president. And here-then all the methods of pre-election campaigns have found something to profit from and what to rummage through. Suffice it to recall what a stormy youth the senator had. But this can hardly discourage anyone in our time. Therefore, gradually many facts acquired a new interpretation and even the form of an accusation. Not only the war years were raised, but also personal, family life. Even the adoption of a black girl was twisted by journalists in such an unpleasant way, despite the fact that it can hurt the child's psyche. Therefore, for sure, all this could affect the election results.

Politics, like war, still changes people, even people as strong as Senator McCain. A photo of a young soldier, full of optimism and heroism, next to a photo from captivity, as well as pictures of a politician, demonstrates an uncommented difference, given age characteristics. This cannot but impress and just makes you think how the weight of years falls on the almost imperceptible tension of the lips, how the traumas of life put gray hair on the hair, how the very position and forced behavior oblige, displayed on the face and facial expressions.

Political achievements of Senator John McCain

As a senator, McCain has earned the respect, approval and support of Americans (and not only). He supported a reasoned ban on abortion. As a seasoned military man, he supported the missile defense program and also spoke out against gun control. As a visionary politician, he advocated the use of the death pen alty, as well asapproved tax cuts, although not immediately. As a thinking person, Senator John McCain could afford to go against partisan priorities, for example, by voting for constitutional amendments to ban same-sex marriage (contrary to the opinion of most Republicans). He also supported the stem cell research program, and federal funds were allocated for it. Here we can also mention the reformist desires of the senator regarding the electoral legislation.

Having lost the last presidential election to Barack Obama, John McCain chose not to tempt fate anymore and remain a senator for as long as he was destined to. It is not known for what reason, but in the summer of 2015 the news spread around the Internet that Senator McCain had died. But everything quickly became clear, the fact was not confirmed. Truthful articles have appeared that all this is disinformation. Although the noise, especially in social networks, it has done a lot. The discussions did not subside even after finding out the truth.

And finally…

There are quite a few interesting and intriguing facts about Senator John McCain. This is because a person with such a bright personality, active life, as well as extraordinary behavior simply cannot but draw attention to himself and provoke heated discussions (not to say gossip). Such are journalists, political games and just curious citizens. But it is difficult to disagree that it is with such personal qualities that a person is directly born for the type of activity that wewe call politics. After all, this occupation requires talent, courage and endurance. It is surprising that a man with such an unusual biography as Senator McCain, in his almost 80 years, is still at the top of his fame and career, being able to bear the burden of power and responsibility. And whatever the performances, behavior, political position and preferences of McCain, his very life, personality, and even more so, his achievements simply make one marvel and bewilder. But to attach importance to facts with a plus or minus sign is already a personal choice of each person, and each of us has the right to do so.