the nation and the world continues to
respond to the news of Senator John
McCain's death a bomber pilot a prisoner
of war a longtime leader in the Senate
McCain was loved and respected by many
on both sides of the political political
spectrum remembered certainly as an
American hero and flags at the White
House and around the country flying at
half-staff after McCain died Saturday
night from an aggressive form of brain
cancer just one day after the McCain
family took the Maverick off of life
support NBC's Andrea Mitchell has a
story John McCain returning to the
Senate last summer with his wife Cindy
after being diagnosed with an aggressive
brain cancer hey how you doing guys
leaving his colleagues with a searing
speech about their collective failures
stop listening to the bombastic
loudmouths on the radio and television
and the internet to hell with them let's
trust each other and delivering the
decisive vote against the president's
repeal of Obamacare with a silent thumbs
down he spent the last eight months at
his beloved Arizona ranch surrounded by
family his wife of 40 years Cindy
tweeting I love my husband with all of
my heart god bless everyone who has
cared for my husband along this journey
his daughter Megan adding we could not
have made it this far without you you've
given us strength to carry on the
veterans senators still working last
winter
despite the ravages of his disease soon
after Megan McCain a co-host on the view
comforted by Joe Biden whose son Beau
suffered from the same type of fatal
brain cancer I think about beau almost
every day and it was told sorry this
doesn't get easier look one of the
things that gave Beau Curry's my word
was John mm-hmm your dad you may
remember when you're a little kid your
dad took care of my bowl Nicole Wallace
a McCain aide in 2008 now with NBC News
says McCain has fought cancer as only
John McCain would he's kept his friends
close he's kept his family even closer
and he's kept his moral compass
he's continued to speak out for this
country he's chided his own party and
his own Senate chamber when he's felt
that he had to and he's celebrated what
this country is when it's at its best
and John McCain has pointed out that
there is much more to his life than
those years he spent as a prisoner of
war in North Vietnam that's correct but
what is undeniable is how that awful
experience forged a deeper appreciation
for his country and a fiery
determination to serve NBC's Lester Holt
takes a look at the senators long life
and even the longer legacy that he is
now leaving behind my country saved me
and I cannot forget it and I will fight
for her as long as I draw a breath so
help me God John McCain has spent his
life serving his country
I am the son and grandson of Navy
Admirals and I was born into America's
service his reputation as a naval
fighter pilot rebellious I was immature
I was reckless I was cocky but I also
knew that I was going to follow in my
father and grandfather's footsteps he
flew bombing missions over Vietnam he
was shot down over Hanoi badly injured
and thrown into a North Vietnamese
prison cannon commander John McCain I
don't think there's any doubt that I was
that I was near death he was tortured
kept in solitary but went given a chance
to go home ahead of other POWs refused
finally after five and a half years
McCain was released after marrying his
wife Cindy he moved to her home state of
Arizona entered politics first as a
member of the House and then in 86 he
was elected to the US Senate McCain was
a Republican rising star taking a
leading role in normalizing relations
with Vietnam it's very important for us
to recognize that
the war is over known as a maverick
willing to think for himself and to work
across the aisle on everything from
campaign finance reform to immigration
he made his second run for the
presidency in 2008 winning the
nomination and choosing a relative
unknown Alaska governor Sarah Palin as
his running mate the night he lost to
Barack Obama McCain conceded with grace
senator Obama has achieved a great thing
for himself and for his country I
applaud him for it
McCain was elected six times to the
Senate a Republican but unafraid to
challenge his own party we're getting
nothing done my friends we're getting
nothing done guided always by the
lessons he learned from his father and
grandfather do what you know is right
act in a fashion that you can look back
and not be embarrassed but proud those
words do what you know is right a
sentiment that his friends family and
even former political rivals are looking
back and echoing this morning and both
of our Michigan senators voicing their
tributes this morning senator debbie
Stabenow saying John McCain was a true
American Hero he served his country
bravely on the battlefield and in public
service his independent spirit and his
dedication to doing what is right would
be greatly missed my prayers are with
Cindy and the McCain family during this
very difficult time senator Gary Peters
saying John McCain was an American hero
a dedicated public servant and true
statesman John's love for America and
our ideals were present in everything he
did his passing is an incredible loss
for the US Senate and the entire nation
my thoughts are with Cindy and the
McCain family and Senator McCain will be
laid to rest in Annapolis Maryland on
the grounds of the US Naval Academy