In 1967, John McCain was a Navy pilot on an aircraft carrier. He was shot down during the Vietnam War and held as a prisoner of war. By 1973, he would return to the U.S. a hero and eventually find himself at the U.S. Capitol.
After five years as a prisoner of war, John McCain soon found himself on Capitol Hill as the Navy liaison. The position, as well as a new marriage and move to Arizona, paved the way for his second career as a politician.
Early in his Senate career, John McCain became ensnared in the Keating Five scandal, which threatened to derail his political career. But after emerging from that scandal, another arose at home involving his wife, Cindy McCain.
Arizona Sen. John McCain insisted on the need for campaign-finance reform and spoke out against pork-barrel spending and government waste. His efforts ruffled feathers in the Senate and earned him the nickname of the 'maverick.'
Eight years after an unsuccessful long-shot presidential bid, John McCain took another run at the nation’s highest office. He would run against a young senator from Illinois named Barack Obama. In the end, McCain again would not be president.
After his 2008 presidential election defeat, John McCain resurrected "the maverick" upon his return to the Senate, opposing President Barack Obama, championing immigration reform and acting as a counterweight to GOP President Donald Trump.
John McCain family pedigree made him valuable Vietnam POW
John McCain transitions from the Navy to Washington
John McCain ensnared in Keating Five scandal
John McCain becomes the maverick and runs for president
John McCain runs for president again in 2008
John McCain resurrects the maverick after 2008 presidential election
John and Cindy McCain marked the end of an eventful and challenging year for the Republican senator with Christmas wishes and photos of the couple with family.
"We are grateful for all your support and prayers this year, best wishes for a happy and healthy 2018 from our family to yours," the McCains' Christmas card states.
It features two photos taken at the McCains' cabin in Cornville, near Sedona.
The first photo, taken on Thanksgiving, shows Cindy and John McCain seated with members of their family standing behind them: (from the left) son Jimmy, Jimmy's wife Holly, daughter Bridget, Jack's wife Renee, Jack, and Jack and Renee's son John S. McCain V.
The second photo was taken at Meghan McCain's wedding to Ben Domenech, which took place at the cabin on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
McCain, 81, was diagnosed in July with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. He was hospitalized near Washington, D.C., for complications related to his cancer treatment, but returned to Arizona on Sunday to spend the holidays here.
Dr. Joseph Zabramski, a neurosurgeon at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, talks about Sen. John McCain's cancer. Thomas Hawthorne/azcentral.com
A cancer expert says Sen. John McCain has an "aggressive" form of brain cancer that will be difficult to treat. Dr. David Reardon at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute says glioblastoma is the most common type of brain cancer in adults. (July 20) AP
Sen. Lindsey Graham says Sen. John McCain is "ready to come back," despite being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. (July 20) AP
Doctors diagnosed Senator John McCain with a glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor that can be difficult to treat. USA TODAY
Sen. John McCain revealed that he has a primary brain tumor, with doctors describing the tumor as a glioblastoma.
Republic reporters explain what glioblastoma is and what it means for Sen. John McCain.
Sen. John McCain diagnosed with brain cancer according to a statement from his office. Wochit
Barrow neurosurgeon talks about McCain's cancer
Doctor: McCain has 'aggressive' cancer
Sen. Graham on McCain: 'He's coming back'
Breaking down John McCain's glioblastoma diagnosis
Sen. John McCain has brain tumor
What is glioblastoma? Unpacking Sen. McCain's cancer diagnosis
Sen. John McCain diagnosed with brain cancer
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