John McCain: A maverick with a heart

John McCain, the six-term Republican senator from Arizona, was a true maverick in American politics. He was a man of principle who was not afraid to stand up for what he believed in, even when it meant going against his own party.

McCain was born in 1936 in the Panama Canal Zone, where his father was a Navy admiral. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1958 and served as a pilot in the Vietnam War. He was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967 and spent five and a half years as a prisoner of war.

After his release from prison, McCain returned to the United States and began his political career. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1982 and to the Senate in 1986.

McCain was a moderate Republican who often worked with Democrats on issues such as campaign finance reform and climate change. He was also a strong supporter of the military and veterans.

In 2008, McCain was the Republican nominee for president. He lost to Barack Obama, but he remained a popular figure in both parties.

McCain died in 2018 at the age of 81 from brain cancer. He was a true American hero and a great loss to the nation.