John McCain

John Sidney McCain III, a Republican, has represented Arizona in the United States Senate since 1986. He was the Republican candidate for President in the 2008 Presidential election. He was also a presidential candidate in the 2000 election, but was defeated in the Republican primaries by then-Texas Governor and now President George W. Bush.

Bio
McCain was born August 29, 1936 in Coco Solo in the U.S controlled Panama Canal Zone. After high school graduation in 1954, McCain entered the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 1958. McCain became a Captain in the United States Navy. On October 26, 1967, McCain was shot down over Vietnam, and was held as a prisoner of war in Hanoi for five-and-a-half years, mostly in the infamous Hanoi Hilton. He was released from captivity in 1973. He was honorably discharged upon his retirement from the Navy in 1981.

During his military career he received a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit, the Purple Heart, and a Distinguished Flying Cross. Official Senate Biography

He is married to Cindy Hensley McCain. When John Jacob Rhodes, the longtime congressman from Arizona's First Congressional district, announced his retirement, McCain successfully ran for the seat in 1982. In 1986, upon Senator Barry Goldwater's retirement, McCain was elected to succeed him.

McCain touts himself as a conservative on many fiscal issues, but moderate on social issues causing some conservatives to ridicule him as a Republican In Name Only. His appeal during the 2000 presidential campaign was based on style and personal image rather than any label of liberal, conservative, moderate or libertarian.

McCain is often called a "maverick senator" because of his willingness to break with the party line. He was one of only four Republicans in the entire U.S. Congress to vote against the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. He was the only Republican senator to vote against the Telecommunications Act of 1995, which he called "the biggest rip-off since the Teapot Dome Scandal." He was also the only Republican senator to vote against the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, which phased out many of the farming subsidy programs put into place during the Great Depression. His concerns over global warming and other environmental issues have also put him at odds with the Bush administration and other Republicans. In addition, he voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment, reaffirming his position as a social moderate.

Forms exploratory committee to consider run
McCain ran unsuccessfully for president in 2008. *See the main Congresspedia article on John McCain: U.S. presidential election, 2008.

Announcement on "Tonight Show with David Letterman"
On February 28, 2007, McCain announced on the "Tonight Show with David Letterman" that he would indeed seek the presidency in 2008. 

Money in politics
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * Senate Committee on Armed Services - Ranking Member
 * Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
 * Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security
 * Subcommittee on Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism
 * Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Innovation
 * Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Insurance, and Automotive Safety


 * Senate Committee on Indian Affairs

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * Senate Committee on Armed Services
 * Subcommittee on Airland - Chair
 * Subcommittee on Personnel
 * Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
 * Subcommittee on Seapower
 * Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
 * Subcommittee on Aviation
 * Subcommittee on Global Climate Change
 * Subcommittee on Trade Tourism and Economic Development
 * Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine
 * Senate Committee on Indian Affairs

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * Republican Main Street Partnership
 * Advisory board, It's My Party Too

Boards and other Affiliations

 * Member, American Friends of Bilderberg
 * Director, International Republican Institute
 * Member, Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction (appointed February 2004 by George W. Bush)
 * On the Board of Governors for the Partnership for Public Service
 * Advisory Board, Terror Free Tomorrow

Biographical

 * John Sidney McCain III in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
 * Teddy Roosevelt. John Mccain is one of his more famous fans. Read about him at Teddy Roosevelt.com.
 * "John McCain's Skeleton Closet," RealChange.org.
 * "Senator John S. McCain's Acceptance Remarks at the 2005 Eisenhower Leadership Prize Banquet," Eisenhower Institute.
 * Arizona Republic's Seven Chapter Special on John McCain, 1999.
 * "The Real John McCain," The Nation, December 12, 2005.

Websites

 * Office of Sen. John McCain, Senate website.
 * News Release: "Senator John McCain Offers 10 Ways That You, Too, Can Support The War Effort."


 * John McCain's "Straight Talk America" website.
 * Friends of John McCain website.
 * John McCain's positions on key civil liberties issues.
 * 2008 Presidential Wire: Sen. John McCain, PatrickRuffini.com.
 * John McCain on the Issues (2000 Presidential Campaign).
 * Compare John McCain's opinions to yours at whereIstand.com.
 * John McCain Vietnam War POW CIA & Department of Defense Files

Interviews

 * Interview with Jon Stewart, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, April 4, 2006. (Other Daily Show interviews with members of Congress.)

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * AZ Congress Watch
 * Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion
 * Daniel's News and Views
 * Western Democrat
 * Blog for Arizona
 * Stop John McCain 2008

Articles by John McCain

 * "How the POW's Fought Back," US News & World Report (Free Republic), May 14, 1973.
 * "No Substitute for Victory. War is hell. Let's get on with it," Opinion Journal, October 26, 2001.
 * "The Right War for the Right Reasons," The New York Times, March 12, 2003.
 * Speech, Republican National Convention, August 30, 2004. Posted on CBS News website.
 * "U.S. Situation in Iraq and Afghanistan," Council on Foreign Relations, November 5, 2003.
 * "Aiding & Abetting," New York Post, November 17, 2005.
 * News Release: "Statement on the War in Iraq," McCain's Senate website, August 25, 2006.

Published Works by John McCain

 * Character Is Destiny: Inspiring Stories Every Young Person Should Know and Every Adult Should Remember by John McCain, Mark Salter (Random House, October 2005) ISBN 1400064120
 * Why Courage Matters: The Way to a Braver Life by John McCain, Mark Salter (Random House, April 2004) ISBN 1400060303
 * Odysseus in America by Jonathan Shay, Max Cleland, John S. McCain (Scribner, November 2002) ISBN 0743211561
 * Worth the Fighting for: A Memoir by John McCain, Mark Salter (Random House, September 2002) ISBN 0375505423
 * Unfinished Business: Afghanistan, the Middle East and Beyond--Defusing the Dangers That Threaten America's Security by Harlan Ullman, John S. McCain (Citadel Press, June 2002) ISBN 0806524316
 * Faith of My Fathers by John McCain, Mark Salter (Random House, August 1999) ISBN 0375501916
 * The Reminiscences of Admiral John S. McCain, Jr., U.S. Navy (retired) by John S. McCain (U.S. Naval Institute, 1999) ISBN B0006RY8ZK