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About John McCain
 John McCain has a remarkable record of
leadership and experience that embodies
his unwavering lifetime commitment to
service. First elected to the U.S. House of
Representatives from Arizona in 1982,
John has led the fight for reforming
Washington, eliminating wasteful
government spending, and strengthening
our nation's armed forces.
John McCain's reform agenda to reduce federal spending and lower taxes quickly elevated him to statewide office and he was elected to the United States Senate in 1986, after serving two terms in the U.S. House.
 In the Senate, John continued to demand
that Congress put an end to loopholes for
special interests and fix the broken system
in Washington that too often allows
lobbyists to write legislation and members
of Congress to waste taxpayer money. In
November 2004, Senator McCain was
overwhelmingly reelected with nearly 77
percent of the vote.
As the son and grandson of distinguished Navy admirals, John McCain deeply values duty, honor and service of country. John attended college at the United States Naval Academy, and launched a 22-year career as a naval aviator upon his graduation. He continued the McCain tradition of service to country passed down to him from his father and grandfather when he asked to serve in the Vietnam War.
 On July 29 1967, John narrowly survived
the first of many near-death experiences
during his lifetime while preparing to take
off on a bombing mission over North
Vietnam from his ship, the USS Forrestal.
A missile accidentally fired from a nearby
plane struck the fuel tanks on John's plane
and created a deadly inferno aboard the
ship. John barely escaped the fiery
disaster that killed 134 men, injured
hundreds more and destroyed 20 planes.
Instead of taking the option to return home after the Forrestal disaster, Senator McCain volunteered for more combat duty - a fateful decision that stopped the clock on his life and separated him from his family, and country, for five and a half years.
During his 23rd bombing mission on October 26, 1967, a missile struck John's plane and forced him to eject, knocking him unconscious and breaking both his arms and his leg. John was then taken as a prisoner of war into the now infamous "Hanoi Hilton," where he was denied necessary medical treatment and often beaten by the North Vietnamese.
John spent much of his time as a prisoner of war in solitary confinement, aided by his faith and the friendships of his fellow POWs. When he was finally released and able to return home years later, John continued his service by regaining his naval flight status.
Senator McCain's last Navy duty assignment was to serve as the naval liaison to the United States Senate. John retired from the Navy in 1981. His naval honors include the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Senator McCain has seven children and four grandchildren, and currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife Cindy.
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Cindy McCain has dedicated her life to
improving the lives of those less fortunate in the U.S. and around the world. Read More
Read more about John McCain's
positions on the issues and bold solutions for the future. Read More
Learn why John McCain is uniquely
qualified to lead America. Read More
Learn more about John McCain's
lifetime of service to the United States. Read More
Learn more about John McCain's
family and what they're doing today.
Read More
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