Today, the Wilson Center community mourns the loss of Senator John McCain. A military hero, a presidential nominee, and a statesman of the Republican party, Senator McCain spent his career working across party lines, recognizing that bipartisan cooperation was necessary to better the lives of all Americans.
“Our shared values define us more than our differences. And acknowledging those shared values can see us through our challenges today if we have the wisdom to trust in them again.”
- Senator John McCain, in The Washington Post August 31, 2017
Today, the Wilson Center community mourns the loss of Senator John McCain. A military hero, a presidential nominee, and a statesman of the Republican party, Senator McCain spent his career working across party lines, recognizing that bipartisan cooperation was necessary to better the lives of all Americans. He served the state of Arizona honorably and was one of the nation’s most respected voices on national defense and foreign policy issues.
In 2003, the Wilson Center presented Senator McCain with the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service, an award given to individuals who have served with distinction in public life and have shown a special commitment to seeking out informed opinions and thoughtful views. Senator John McCain, like President Wilson, believed that “the world must be made safe for democracy.” His steady approach and willingness to speak out made him a true leader to members of both parties.
"In recent months, I've thought a lot about John McCain,” says Jane Harman, President, Director, and CEO of the Wilson Center. “I was fortunate to travel with him many times to the Munich Security Conference and saw his leadership there and in countries like Ukraine, Georgia, and the Balkans. His unwavering commitment to freedom and to a forward-leaning, bipartisan security policy seem part of a bygone era. Surely we will miss him and his voice at the Center."
The Honorable Fred Malek, Chairman of the Board of the Wilson Center, served as National Finance Chairman for Senator McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign. He still views that role as “one of my proudest experiences” and considers McCain “a hero and a national treasure.”
We at the Wilson Center are grateful for his long life of devoted service to our nation and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family.
