The loss of John McCain has touched more Americans more deeply than any death since the assassination of President Kennedy. And properly so. In the hours since McCain’s death, many in the media have posed the question “Who will be the next John McCain?” The answer clearly is no one. McCain was unique: war hero, prisoner of war, presidential nominee and a leader of the Senate who commanded bi-partisan affection and respect. We will not see his like again.
That need not mean, and should not be allowed to mean, that the qualities McCain embodied are forever beyond the grasp of our political leaders. Those qualities were neither Republican nor Democrat but qualities of America at her best: courage, decency, integrity, devotion to public service and service over self. McCain had those attributes and more, including optimism, a sense of humor and an ability to see his own short-comings neither denying them nor being defeated by them, but learning from them.
Senator Chuck Schumer has proposed a re-naming of the Russell Senate Office for John McCain. That would be a fitting tribute and it should be speedily approved. But it is not enough; there must be more that can be done to keep alive the legacy and spirit of John McCain. One modest possibility would be the establishment of a foundation that would each year recognize political leaders from both parties who have best exemplified the spirit of John McCain in their own public service. Perhaps there will be different and better ideas of how to celebrate McCain’s life and, if so, let us by all means hear them. One thing we must not do is let the sad event of McCain’s death simply fall victim to the urgencies of the next news cycle and quickly be forgotten. Rather it is up to all of us to find ways of making his life a source of continuing inspiration.
Wonderful tribute. How about a foundation that would recognize a graduate school major in political science who has an aim of entering the political or academic world and has exhibited some of the qualities outlined in your article.
Beautifully written. Senator McCain will be remembered as a very great statesman who always put his country first. Who can forget when he told the befuddled lady at a presidential rally, “No ma’m, he [Barak Obama] is not a Muslim terrorist; he is a patriotic American and fine family man.” Or words to that effect.
Our country mourns the loss of such an all American hero. Our politics demands future leaders in the mold of John McCain.
The current name of the SOB was a tribute to Senator Richard Russel, civil rights antagonist, failed Presidential candidaty, segregation proponent.
“S.O.B “ ( Senate Office Building)……second thought, maybe SOB was appropriate for Senator Russel.
Time for a change!
Right on, Doug!
I must say I’ve been puzzled over the past few days by the seemingly- general consensus (even among his admirers) that McCain was “bad-tempered.” I don’t doubt that he was impatient and cranky, but I’ve never heard that he was gratuitously nasty, nor that he threw staffers and/or colleagues under the “proverbial bus.” Moreover, while he certainly had harsh words for various policies espoused by his presidential-race opponents, GW Bush and Obama, his criticism was never personal; to the contrary, as an Obama supporter, I always thought McCain outdid the usually-gracious/eloquent Obama in offering kind words about his opponent’s (Obama’s) personal qualities and values. I only hope that the 2 of them (GW and Obama) can rise to McCain’s level when they deliver their eulogies to McCain at the service at the National Cathedral this Saturday.
In any event, it has been nothing short of stunning to watch retrospective clips of McCain, against the backdrop of our current President’s petty, ignorant ugliness.
We have indeed lost a great man. I hope and trust the Senate will re-name the Russell Senate Office Building after him…and that other tributes, such as that which you suggest, will follow.
In the meantime, one of my great regrets in life is that I never managed to sneak into a group to go-drinking with John McCain. In my imagination, he would have made fun of me (“who the #**$ are you?”), but would also have had me falling off my chair laughing…and even in the midst of the hilarity, I would have learned something valuable from him.
Doug: fitting comments for a splendid American. One way to honor his memory is to rededicate ourselves to living according to his standards of decency and honor, and especially to his practice of showing respect for people with whom he disagreed.
What has been so devastating to me is the absence of any acknowledgement of Senator McCain’s contributions and service by Trump. In fact he ridiculed him at a recent rally. “Sir, have you lost any shred of decency?”
I couldn’t agree more, Doug. The McCain Senate Office Building would be a welcome daily reminder for everyone who entered it of the qualities that made him so indispensable to our political/legislative system, seasoned by an annual “McCain Award” to the member of each party who best exemplified McCain’s courage, decency and bipartisanship.
But I do take exception to your opening observation here. I would amend it to say “…touched more Americans more deeply than any deaths since the twin assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy fifty years ago.”
Rest in Peace, John McCain. It was interesting to read today’s LA Times piece on his life and the fact that it was not a straight shot from being a celebrated POW to a life of government service and a celebrated Senate career. He had not just emotional and physical injuries to endure and rehabilitate that we have all heard about; he also had significant personal and behavioral troubles to overcome – and in doing so, he grew into the man he ultimately became. This journey was inspiring to read, as was his humble declaration of the honor it was to serve his country. Perhaps the coverage of his life and death will “speak” in a new way to inspire others.
McCain was one of a kind, but in his life he was able to recognize the merits of many others who shared commitment to our country and lives of service to it, though in different ways. One of McCain’s good friends, John Kerry, is another American who fought for our country and focused his life and career in service to America. McCain and Kerry, though vastly different in their experiences and perspectives coming out of the Vietnam War, found common ground in working together on Senate legislation “across the aisle.” They respected each other regardless of their differences, and became friends.
Near the end of his life, McCain begged Congress to ignore the bombastic rhetoric in the news and to listen instead to the needs of the country, to stick to the values necessary to keep our country moving in a forward and positive direction despite political differences.
So in the midst of the sad news of McCain’s passing, it’s good news to hear that Chuck Schumer advanced the idea of renaming the Russell Senate Office for McCain. Could this kind of bipartisan recognition kick-start a chance for Republicans and Democrats to work together again? He would be honored.
Well said! While I didn’t always agree with his positions I could depend on them to be well thought out and reasonable from his standpoint and the standpoint of many Americans.
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