Arizona Sen. John McCain died Saturday night, (Aug. 25) after a year-long battle with brain cancer. He was 81 years old. The Republican senator, who reportedly survived several plane crashes as a naval bomber pilot as well as five-and-a-half years as a Vietnam prisoner of war, passed away just four days shy of his 82nd birthday.
McCain had many rivals in Washington including former presidential opponent Barack Obama. When news of McCain’s death was revealed, 44 took to social media to detail the differences they shared, but also the common respect they had for American politics.
“John McCain and were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest level of politics. but we shared for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher-the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched and sacrificed.”
In July 2017, McCain was diagnosed with brain cancer following a procedure to remove a blood clot from his left eye. While the Senator showed great dignity, he later decided to discontinue his cancer treatment.
“Last summer, Senator John McCain shared with Americans the news our family already knew: he had been diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma, and the prognosis was serious. In the year since, John has surpassed expectations for his survival. But the progress of the disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict,” a statement from his family read.
Our statement on the passing of Senator John McCain: pic.twitter.com/3GBjNYxoj5
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 26, 2018
McCain was also considered an anomaly among the Republican party for publically speaking out against the president. For the past year, McCain had been planning his funeral and was vehement that Trump not attend the services. Former President George W. Bush and Obama have been asked to offer eulogies.
“Few of us have been tested the way John once was or required to show the kind of courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own,” Obama wrote.
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