then as now, americans marvelled at the iron will of john mccain. but captivity did not diminish john's sense of calling. or his commitment to mission. as he would later say, i fell in love with my country when i was a prisoner in someone else's. and after he made it home, john traded service in the uniform of the united states for service in congress exchanging the rank of captain for congressman and later senator. for 35 years, john served in these very halls under this very dome. and he fought for what he believed in. in my years in congress, and as vice president, we didn't always agree either. and he almost always noticed. but his support for limited government, for tax reform, and support for our armed forces surely left our nation more prosperous and more secure, and he will be missed. as president trump said yesterday, we respect his service to the country. like many of you gathered here, i also had the privilege of traveling with senator mccain to visit our troops overseas. earlier this week, i told cindy of a time on a trip through iraq aft

by the way, when you're in vietnam with john mccain, he is treated like a hero. the hero that he is, by the vietnamese people which is amazing. these code out her senator mccain has let them all over the world with senators have got a lot of attention. of course, they are very important. senator graham was talking recently in the senate we focus a lot on foreign policy and national security. you can't learn that from watching cable tv. you can learn it when you go out into the world and travel and meet with leaders and meet with people and see the suffering, see the opportunities, cb challenges. john mccain took so many of us in his leadership, mentorship way on these congressional delegations all over the world. there has been some joking now about how with his energy and his focus, some members called these force marches. by the way, nobody could keep up with him. even the newer members. they certainly were intense. mentorship,idea of with john mccain he once again showed that leadership. he would be leading it. you would be in a room with the world leader and h

like so many today, i rise to honor john mccain, to sing john mccain's praises. there are many here, most here who knew him longer than i did. i'll admit that when you and i, mr. president, first got here in 2014, i knew john mccain as somebody from the history books. i knew john mccain as somebody destined for the history books. i knew john mccain as an american hero. but i didn't know john mccain the man. i didn't know john mccain, the flesh and blood, genuinely hilarious guy. but over the past 48 months i had the privilege of actually getting to become friends with john mccain. it's sort of weird to say when you're our age -- you're a good bit older than i am, but when you're roughly our age, mr. president, i'm 46 and john mccain was an octogenarian, and he befriended me. i've been on many overnights with john mccain, i've been to war zones with john mccain. i've been cussed out by john mccain lots of times. he would call me stupid bastard on a regular basis and he meant it affectionately. i'm convinced he didn't use the term stupid bastard lately. he reserved

paying their respects to john mccain, paying back john mccain for what he did over the years.ner. he would canvass the state of arizona going to the smallest towns, populations of less than 100 and he would hold these town halls with these people. we are now waiting here for cindy mccain who is now just gotten out of the car, and the arizona national guard will bring the casket out and then bring it into north phoenix baptist church. we are going to pause for one moments to let our fox news stations join us. this is a fox news alert, this is coverage of the memorial service of senator john mccain. i'm trace gallagher in phoenix, at the north phoenix baptist church. this is where the ceremony will take place honoring senator john mccain. this ceremony is the last time that arizonans have two pay their respects and say they're their fond farewells to john mccain. at 2:00 this afternoon, he will be placed onto an airplane at sky harbor airport and flown to the nation's capital to lie in state in the capitol rotunda. his funeral and then his internment at the naval academy. and th

, our john mccain's grandfather. when i shared this with john and every time i'd see him he'd say we've got to call your dad. that's exactly what we did one day. and i cherish that special connection, mr. president, with a family that has meant so much to our country and to freedom. mr. president, it was an honor to serve with john mccain. i will miss his sense of humor and the passion that he brought to every battle. i admired him greaterly. he reminded me and all of us every day that life is not about advancing ourselves but about serving a greater cause. and that paradoxically, it is in service that we find freedom. in his farewell message to his country men john said, and i quote, to be connected to america's causes, respect, liberty and justice and dignity for all people brings happiness more sublime than life's fleeting pleasures. our identities and sense of worth are not circumscribed but enhrargd by serving good causes that are bigger than ourselves. end quote. mr. president, already the new class of midshipme

she covered john mccain on capitol hill. she covered those campaigns as well. we'll talk about senator mccain and as he reached across the aisle. an incredible moment on "the view." when joe biden was on "the view" and he was talking to meghan mccain, of course john mccain's daughter. they had this incredible moment. very real moment. you could hear joe biden's voice that the type of relationship we had with senator mccain. let's listen. >> your son beau had the same cancer that my father was diagnosed with six months ago. and i'm sorry. >> look, one of the things that gave beau courage my word was john. your dad you may remember when you were a little kid, your dad took care of my beau. your dad when he worked with me, became friends with beau and beau talked about your dad's courage, not about illness but about his courage and if anybody can make it, your dad -- her dad is one of my best friends. [ applause ] >> her dad -- her dad goes after me -- we're like two brothers who somehow raised by different fathers or something. because of our points of view. but i

john mccain a p.o.w. john mccain a vietnam vet. john mccain the statesman.mccain better known as the maverick. again, john mccain died at 81 years old, died after fighting a vea grefs form of brain cancer. and you're watching cnn live coverage this hour as we continue to remember the life and legacy of john mccain. stay with us. we will of course continue to bring you the reaction, people's responses, the thoughts about this man as our coverage continues. ♪ woman 1: proof of less joint pain... woman 2: ...and clearer skin. woman 3: this is my body of proof. man 2: proof that i can fight psoriatic arthritis... woman 4: ...with humira. woman 5: humira targets and blocks a specific source of inflammation that contributes to both joint and skin symptoms. it's proven to help relieve pain, stop further irreversible joint damage, and clear skin in many adults. humira is the #1 prescribed biologic for psoriatic arthritis. avo: humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers, including lymphom

john mccain without the massive campaign operation, john mccain, the maverick, john mccain on a wing and a prayer, he came back and won that nomination. and i think that really, it epitomizes the type of person he is. when you walk into his senate office, it wasn't cold. it wasn't corporate. it wasn't like a lot of senate offices that you walk into. there was just a bustle of activity. and anytime you went in to see the senator, you weaved through a thousand different desks and stacks of paper everywhere and people roaming here and there. it was not -- it was not the most organized office in the world. he was a constant -- he was constantly in motion and constantly moving. i think the one time i went into his office throughout the years where, there was more the silence. it was more contemplative, when i saw him in february -- i think it was february of 2017. it was so interesting, when i went to the hill, which i've been going to for 20 years, every time i go to the hill, i would have jesse rodriguez say, who do you want to meet? who do you want to line up meetings with? and he woul

you competed against john mccain and you also campaigned with john mccain. tell us your fondest memory. >> the fondest memory was not when he beat me, john, i will tell you that. [laughter] it was never personal. in fact, john mccain was able to defeat me in south carolina and that was the turning point. i was getting momentum up until that time but he had decided that if he did not win south carolina he was pulling out because he was about out of gas and out of money and i was a critical moment. he and fred thompson had a great plan. the plan was fred would stay in the race, use ready to get out, fred would stay and basically drive back and forth between greenville and freiburg and beat the stuffing out of me every day. that is where my strength was an mccain strength was down in the low country in charleston. it was a very effective strate strategy. we still thought we might pull it off. john mccain ended up winning soccer liner and went on to win the nomination. it was one of the things the people said to that you upset that they had that strategy and i s

and john mccain's impact on america is not over. it's not per boly, it's not -- not hyperbole. it's not over. cindy, john owed so much of what he was to you. you were his ballast. when i was with you both i could see how he looked at you. jill is the one, when we were in hawaii and he first met threw, he kept staring at you. jill said finally, go up and talk to her. and doug and annie, sydney, megan, jack, jimmy, brigette, you may not have had your father as long as you would have liked but you got from him everything you need to pursue your own dreams. to follow the course of your own spirit. are you a living legacy, not hyperbole, you are a living legacy and proof of john mccain's success. now john is going to take his rightful place in a long line of extraordinary leaders in this nation's history, in their time and in their way stood for freedom and stood for liberty and have made the american story the most improbable and the most hopeful and the most enduring story on earth. i know john said he hoped he played a small part in that story. john, you did much more than that, m

when john mccain went out there to apologize, there was a man at the front gate that gave john mccain the finger on his way in. he still went in and apologized to the people in the senior community. >> i'm sure he did. john had so much courage. i bet you he laughed about it, too, after the guy gave him the finger. that would be john. if he was wrong, he admitted it. how often does that happen in politician? to be that honest. >> trace: yeah, very true. we should note, there's 150 members of the air national guard, 150 members of the army national guard on hand. the national guard in arizona, john mccain relied heavily upon. he was a very big fan of the national guard. he was a very big fan of the military in arizona everywhere. specifically in arizona. there was a famous story going back where luke air force base on the edge of maricopa county, encompassing phoenix. back in the developmental days when the real estate was booming, they were building houses very close. they were pushing on to luke air force because. there was one thought, you know, the air force base doesn't need this l

nine years to the day his good friend john mccain passed on this same day nine years apart. mccain once said there was a time when he and ted kennedy were at different ends of the political spec frum on the political issue. there was a gallery full of tourists visiting the senate. of the rafters were filled with people who came to see the senate in action. he walked over 0 senator kennedy and said, let's give them a show. each man went to his deck and argued in great theater of public life. and they had fun doing it. so there are many memories of john mccain as the warrior, as the politician, as the public bent. and certainly as someone who would make you laugh. andrea? >> kelly, that he so captures it. joining us presidential historian, jon meacham. i've been reading, rereading restless wave, the last book that, of course, john mccain wrote with his muse, mark salter. and just posted at "the washington post" is an op-ed, a tribute, eulogy if you will from mark salter who knew him better than any of us. he writes in part, he thought in a moral failure to accept injustice as t

and sure enough, john mccain without the massive campaign operation, john mccain the maverick, john mccainn a ring and a prayer came back and he won that nomination. and i think that really -- it really epitomized the type of person he is. he was -- when you walk into his senate office, it wasn't cold or corporate. it wasn't like a lot of senate offices that you walk into. there was just a bustle of activity. and any time you went into to see the senator, you weaved through a thousand different desks and stacks of paper everywhere and people roomi-- p roaming here and there. it was not the most organized office in the world. he was -- a constant -- he was just constantly in motion and constantly moving. i think the one time that i wanted -- i went into his office through the years where there was more of a silence and it was more contemplateive was when i saw him in february -- think it was february of 2017. and it is so interesting when i went to the hill, which i've been going to for 20 years. every time i went to the hill, i would have jesse rodriguez say who do you want to meet or who

then, as now, americans marveled at the iron will of john mccain. r his commitment to mission. as he would later say, i fell in love with my country when i was a prisoner in someone else's. and after he made it home, john traded service in the uniform of the united states for service in congress, exchanging the rank of captain for congressman and later senator. for 35 years, john served in these very halls under this very dome. and he fought for what he believed in. in my years in congress, and as vice president, we didn't always agree, either. and he almost always noticed. but his support for limited government, for tax reform, and support for our armed forces surely left our nation more prosperous and more secure and he will be missed. as president trump said yesterday, we respect his service to the country. like many of you gathered here, i also had the privilege of traveling with senator mccain to visit our troops overseas. earlier this week i told cindy of a time on a trip through iraq, after another 18-hour day, when i was literally falling asl

it was john mccain. i made speech after speech on the subject but when john mccain got up and spoke about the issue of torture, there was silence in the floor of the senate as we listened carefully. he proposed a resolution establishing humane standards of treatment realizing that the humanity we showed toward our prisoners is the same community we expected if americans were taken prisoner. in his effort was enacted by the senate with over 90 votes a strong person roll call. john mccain more than anything was a champion of the united states military. the men and women who served in our armed forces. they never had a better friend. our nation's veterans and their families never had a stronger ally. he was a leader in the fight to curb the influence of special interest in politics, and to make our government truly a government by and for the people. with russ feingold and john mccain they moved us towards what america is longing for putting the special interest behind us putting the people first ending sof

and sure enough, john mccain without the massive campaign operation, john mccain the maverick, john mccain on a ring and a prayer came back and he won that nomination. and i think that really -- it really epitomized the type of person he is. he was -- when you walk into his senate office, it wasn't cold or corporate. it wasn't like a lot of senate offices that you walk into. there was just a bustle of activity. and any time you went into to see the senator, you weaved through a thousand different desks and stacks of paper everywhere and people -- people roaming here and there. it was not the most organized office in the world. he was -- a constant -- he was just constantly in motion and constantly moving. i think the one time that i wanted -- i went into his office through the years where there was more of a silence and it was more contemplateive was when i saw him in february -- think it was february of 2017. and it is so interesting when i went to the hill, which i've been going to for 20 years. every time i went to the hill, i would have jesse rodriguez say who do you want to meet or wh

john mccain was a great man. they have a big family and i hope they are there for each other. >> you never get over it, but you live with it. this whole coverage i have been watching this weekend, this is what we do. i hate to mention president petty in the same sentence with john mccain. i don't think this president even deserves to be mentioned in the same sentence given the way he has acted. over the last couple of years when it comes to john mccain, but especially the last couple of days. this is an american hero who deserves all of our respect and who would debate you on the issues and leave with a smile or tell you that you were -- what was the saying? i can't believe. >> how can such a big head hold such few thoughts. i remembered that. >> listen, i'm going to have to do it, but just know i hate mentioned this president. >> remember this. there is a reason you do it. john mccain would have done it. you are pointing out proof of contrast in a moment where the country is remembering what matters. >> thank yo

errors but served his country and i hope we could add honorably. >> as we mourn the loss of senator john mccain, cnn has learned that the white house drafted a statement for president trump that specifically praised senator mccain but it was never sent out. the "washington post" says the release called mccain a hero, talked about his service to the country in the senate and military and chief of staff john kelly wanted it sent out. sarah sanders wanted it sent out and other aids, but the president did not. he rejected it, the post says. instead he sent a short tweet that never mentioned the career in washington or service or sacrifice in vietnam. that's what the president chose to do. we're choosing to handle things much differently. joining us now jan brewer, known john mccain for decades. i think had the honor to getting to nominate him for the republican nomination at the republican convention in 2008. governor, thanks so much for being with us. we send our condolences to you and entire state of arizona. >> thank you so much. it's great to be with you this morning. >> one of the things that

. >> narrator: as america usmembers john mccain... >> john mccain fed together two almost opposing concepts. he was all about duty and he was all about dissent. >> narrator: the life politics and legacy of a meverick. >> in some ways, mccain is a pioneer of the politics i think we're going to get, and in some ways i think he's the last ofhi breed of somng we're losing. >> narrator: tonight on "frontline," "mccain." fr >>tline" is made possible by contributions to your pbs station from viewersike you. thank you. and by the corporation for public broadcasting. major support is provided by the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation, committed to buildinre just, verdant, and peaceful world. more information is available at macfound.org. the ford foundation, working with visionariesn the front lines of social change worldwide, at fordfoundation.org. additional support is provided by the abrams foundation, mmitted to excellence in journalism. the park foundation, dedicatedgh to hning public awareness of critical issues. the john and helen glessner smmily trust, supporting trustworthy journ

president, any thoughts on john mccain? mr. president, any thoughts on john mccain?u very much, everybody. thank you. >> any thoughts on john mccain? do you have any thoughts at all about john mccain? >> get moving, let's go. let's go. keep moving. >> nothing at all about john mccain? any action to the american legion asking for a proclamation of john mccain? >> we're finished. >> mr. president, any comment on john mccain, sir? mr. president, why won't you call john mccain a hero, sir? >> after that, jeffrey, all of the pressure clearly got to the president. he eventually issued a statement saying despite our difference on policy and politics, i respect jurors's service to our country, in his honor signed a proclamation to fly the flag of the united states at half staff until the day of his internment. what's your reaction? >> what are the odds donald trump wrote that statement opposed to someone in the press office. how about 100% this was written by a staffer. i don't think this is complicated. donald trump hates john mccain, he resents him, and john mccain suffere

that is what john mccain was talking about and what it will take to allow someone like a mccain to emerge again. >> i'm not so sure that someone like john mccain will ever -- >> don't give up. >> we talked about that before. where are people going to talk about it. the straight talk express in 2000 was the candidate going most full bore you will ever get, and he dialled it back a little bit, but it was interesting to see a politician who, for a time, was unafraid to say anything. >> true, also someone whose hall mark has been not only bipartisan, but also civility for the most part. what occurred to me is that today, this morning, is the start of a week of national reflection, and i don't just mean about senator mccain, the contrast between his legacy and what the country is now experiencing is what we will see for the next six days culminating with president's obama and bush. their fallen colleague. and i think every day this week people will have to stop and refle reflect. >> dana, i was here on the campaign, i was there for a portion of the time and it was really fun. there was so much

what are you going to miss about john mccain? >> thank you, john, you're really pointing to the heart of john mccain, the institution, and the kind of statesmanship that he offered was so appreciated and missing that voice in a time when so many people appear to be so petty will be something that i think all americans mourn. they mourn the man, but they mourn what his message was to this country. and that was that we ought to strive to be better. and no one could deliver that message with more authenticity than a great american war hero that dedicated his life on behalf of his country. he articulated a message of values and you knew they were not platitudes to john mccain. they were heart faelelt. that is what people connected to. they knew he spoke from a place of integrity. he didn't -- i served on the armed services committee with him, and we had members that wanted to beat their exist about being tough on vietnam 40 years after the fact, and john mccain was like no, we need reconciliation. he was not looking for quick populari

typical john mccain. a volcanic temper, but an embracing, loving approach when it came to friendship. that was john, passionate in his beliefs. not a man to hold grudges. he understood that two people can disagree on issues today, still both love this country, and work together tomorrow. occasionally, he would invite you on a trip. be careful. i said yes several times. a john mccain trip over a weekend was something you don't soon forget. if there is anybody out there who thinks that senators with john mccain were sitting poolside drinking these mixed drinks with paper umbrellas, they've got it all wrong. john mccain's trips on the weekend were more like bataan death marches. from the minute you got on that plane until you got back to washington, it was a nonstop schedule. everything had to be done. we had to see three countries, not two. we had to get it done and get back to washington. and you learn so much. i went to ukraine with john. i remember walks the streets of kiev in ukraine and people coming up

john mccain had empathy, he had vision. he was a tremendous statesman committed to our nation and doing what's in his fellow americans' interests. >> we're going to pause, general, as we watch the pallbearers carrying senator mccain, the casket. the family lined up outside the church. the service members are from the arizona national guard. of course after these services in phoenix, senator mccain's body will be flown to washington, where he will lie in state in the rotunda, lie in repose, i should say, in the rotunda at the u.s. capitol. there have been thousands of arizonans and people from all over the country. our colleague peter alexander interviewed a vietnamese family, formerly vietnamese family that drove from california to honor senator mccain. and general mcmaster, that fits with your theme about the peace and reconciliation that he pursued, diplomatically helping former president bill clinton achieve a peace agreement and diplomatic recognition to vietnam, a former adversary, former enemy, of course. that was an i

from john mccain. he went to the naval academy, his dad went to the naval academy, his grandfather went to the naval academy. the name mccain and the naval academy are synonymous almost. he is going to be buried there, in fact. and i looked at the senator and i said yes, sir. and another time in the armed services committee, he mentioned to me that he had always taken a very strong interest in the asia pacific, in our force posture out there. what was happening in places like okinawa, and that he wanted the newer members of the senate to be part of that. reaching out to new senators, i want you to do this, i'm going to travel to the region, i want you to come with me. i mean, unbelievable. and i said yes, sir, to that. so like so many here, we have talked about it, we went to these places. just a couple months later, i had the incredible honor of traveling to vietnam with senator mccain. with senator reed from rhode island, senator ernst from iowa, and that's a trip i will never forget. we actually went

john mccain was a giant in the senate. we have heard comments and reaction for colleagues give tribute to them and will continue for some time. this, as the mccain family released details of his memorial services for the latter half of the week starting in phoenix on wednesday, coming in for ceremonies in washington, d.c., then his final resting place in annapolis, maryland, where he will be buried on sunday. the legacy of senator, john mccain. >> moral support. really, that's what john mccain gave this body and this country, for so long. his memory will continue to give it. >> reporter: palpable in the halls of congress today from the makeshift memorial outside his senate office building to his desk on the senate floor. >> i'll miss how much fun he was and how much i learned from him. he leaves a big hole in my heart. >> reporter: mccain's colleagues, friends and rivals, republicans and democrats remembering him for his service, his sacrifice and the tone and tenor he brought to washington. >> he never stopped trying to fi

this set something into motion with john mccain. is was the side of him always fighting back against power and influence. if you look at the famous mccain feingold campaign finance law, that's part and parcel of what they went through. when you hear those ads, we'll tart to hear a lot of them in the next couple months. a candidate will appear on tv and say i'm so and so and i approve this message. the version they ultimately signed into law was the house version. but it's the companion piece of legislation. everybody knows it's mccain feingold. judge jeanine: chad pergram, senior producer for capitol hill. thanks for sharing your thoughts on the passing of senator john mccain earlier this evening. right now we have on the phone -- senator jeff flake from arizona. senator flake? thank you so much for joining us this evening. your thoughts tonight on the passing of senator john mccain. >> well, just gratitude for having him served for so long and so well. he leaves a huge void in the senate obviously. in arizona there is a huge void, a

we are a blessing to humanity. >> john mccain earned the right to say that. having fought communism and -- it says so much about his character that vietnam's foreign minister offered condolences to the mccain family while praising him for building relations with vietnam. john mccain, the longest serving senator and statesman, a true leader composed a final message to his fellow americans delivered today by his long-time aid rick davis. >> ten years ago i had the privilege to concede defeat in the election for president. i want to end my farewell to you with heartfelt faith in americans that i felt so powerfully that evening. i feel it powerfully still. do not despair of our present difficulties. we believe always in the promise and greatness of america because nothing is inevitable here. americans never quit. we never surrender. we never hide from history. we make history. farewell, fellow americans. god bless you and god bless america. >> very well said. john mccain, a statesman and an american hero. president trump finally speaking out saying our hearts and

is being greeted by the governor, governor ducey and his wife at the arizona state capitol as john mccain's casket has arrived coming from the motor home. the honor guard there. first we are seeing mrs. mccain who has been at her husband's side day and night for all of these months since december after he left the capitol, his final vote was on december 7th. he then went back to sedona to his beloved ranch as he fought this battle with very aggressive fatal brain cancer. >>> cindy mccain is being escorted by her sons, jimmy and jack, both in uniforms. one active duty and one in the reserves i believe. >>> loving god, see our tears for our brother, our father, our husband, our fellow citizen, our senator. let these tears bring blooms in the deserts he loved and the country he served and in all of our hearts, amen. >> please be seated. governor ducey, governor brewer and representative colby and senator heller and senator flake and cindy mccain and all members of the mccain family and friends. john mccain believed in america. he believed in its people, its values, and its institutions. he cam

his name is john mccain.rs, in congress from arizona, now elected to the senate seat of retiring barry goldwater. >> that was nbc's tom brokaw nearly 32 years ago as john mccain moved from the house to the senate, and an otherwise tough year for republicans senator mccain went on to win reelection five times. the senator passed away on saturday, yet this morning the flag at the white house flies at full staff, having been lowered from a mere few hours following the senator's death. with us we have nbc news senior correspondent tom brokaw, former anchor of "cbs evening news", now the president of news and guts and host of axios tv, dan rather, susan page. author, columnist and political analyst, jeff greenfield. author and nbc news presidential historian, microsohael beshloff. his coming book will be published in october. mike and peggy are with us still. tom, going back to that night in 1936, what an incredible 32 years it was for john mccain. >> you know, i'm here in chicago, joe, because it was 50 years ago

to the woman that brought john mccain into this world, mrs. mccain, roberta, 106 years young, you raised a remarkable son and we are truly blessed that you are among us still. when we look to you, there is no doubt where john mccain inherited his determination, resilience and tenacity, it was built into his d.n.a. you see it in john's children, who carry on his spirit of service, doug, andy, meghan, sydney, jack, jimmy and bridget, may god bless you and keep all of you, your father was very proud and so is the state of arizona. in may, angela and i had the great honor of visiting with john and cindy at their cabin. before lunch, the senator broke the ice by sharing what was weighing on his mind most of all, breaking into his signature grin, he said, my biggest challenge is deciding whether or not to run for re-election in 2022. dying, as has been observed 50 years earlier, was not in his plan. the john mccain was a fighter and he called on us to fight with him, for american values, for the ideals and character of a free people, for justice and

you're a living legacy and proof of john mccain's success. now john is going to take his rightful place in the long line of extraordinary leaders in this nation's history who, in their time and in their way, stood for freedom and stood for liberty, and have made the american story the most improbable and the most hopeful and the most enduring story on earth. i know john said he hoped he played a small part in that story. john, you did much more than that, my friend. to paraphrase shakespeare, we shall not see his like again. >> a second reading from 2 timothy chapter 4 versus 6 through 8. for i am already being poured out like a drink offering and the time for my departure is near. i have fought the good fight, i have finished the race. i have kept the faith. now there is in store for me the crown of rich outness which the already, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day. not only to me, but also to all who have long for his appearing. ♪ i love you arizona ♪ your mountains, deserts and streams ♪ ♪ and the outlaws i see in my dreams ♪

john mccain's fight for america isn't over. so those words there from the man who will choose, at least the interim, temporary replacement for senator mccain. certainly that's something we'll discuss in the coming days. for now at least, as we watch these events unfold, this is something senator mccain indeed wanted. >> whoever governor ducey selects will serve in the united states senate through 2020. >> indeed. >> a new election in november of 2020. elaine povich, you've written a biography of john mccain. when we say he was planning a lot of this, certainly he was involved in selecting those who would speak. and remember in phoenix, joe biden, the former vice president, a democrat. a close friend. he will speak. >> indeed. of course, joe biden's son beau died of the same kind of cancer that took senator mccain from us. the circles are so entwined. and i think senator mccain had maybe this in mind that we are together, we are entwined. joe biden and john mccain could not have been more different politically coming from differe

good-bye to john mccain.y in state at the capital in phoenix, on thursday a procession, well wishers are invited to line the route up there. thursday afternoon he'll be transferred to andrews air force base in washington d.c. and on friday he will lie in state in the rotunda of the u.s. capital. and on sunday he'll be moved by procession in washington d.c. and he'll be moved from washington to his beloved naval academy in annapolis, maryland where there will be a private ceremony and he'll be interred sunday afternoon in annapolis. >> we know about former presidents bush and obama, who are some of the other notable speakers? >> it is incredible to read the number of individuals -- the number of individuals this man touched around the word, there are processions, services, there are prayers, there are celebrations of his life along the way. to name a few, joe biden and mike pence, henry kissinger, warren beatty will take part and general david portrais, michael bloomberg and the citying secretary of defense ja

america will miss john mccain. the world will miss john mccain and i will miss him dearly. on behalf of myself, jill, and the entire biden family, our n condolences go out to the entire mccain family. i want to go live now to stephanie elim. she is outside the ranch where senator mccain passed away this evening. these are live pictures. very sad moment. we learned that john mccain passed away at 4:28 this afternoon. i believe that is local time according to the press release put out from the senator's office. stephanie is live in arizona. fill us in on what's been happening there and what you're hearing on the ground. >> reporter: well, right now you're seeing the most activity. there was just a police escort here to the ranch that dana so beautifully described just a few moments ago here at what they call the cabin out here in the rural part of arizona. i have to tell you, it has been such strikingly beautiful day up here with the cloud cover and the rain came in. up against those stark red rocks, i could see why senator mccain called this home. just now we saw the suvs mak

madam president, i first met john mccain when i was a young staffer in senator bill cohen's office and john was serving as the navy's liaison officer. as a fellow senator for the past 21 years, i knew him as a trusted colleague, a courageous legislator, and a close friend. john was a true american hero, who devoted his life to serving his country. courage and character were the ha hallmarks of his military service as well as his work in congress. in the senate he was a consequential leader on the most critical issues facing our country. john mccain was one of our congress's most respected voices for a strong national defense and for good government. his words was as much his bond in washington as it was to his brothers in the armed -- in vietnam. madam president, i'd like to share with my colleagues a story which i believe demonstrates the essential character of john mccain. in november of 2010 john was part of a congressional delegation on its way to a security conference in nova scotia. bad weather caused their flight to be diverted to bangor, maine, where i live. i shortly received

. -- john mccain. he dedicated his life to public firste is a vote nation, in the military and then in elected office. himself directly in harm's way during the vietnam war and his great sacrifice of personal freedom is well known. as a senator, he served with honesty and integrity working both with those with whom he agreed and many with whom he did not. his willingness to speak the truth as he understood it, even when it was not politically expedient to do so proved to be a rare phenomenon. for that reason, it was all the more precious. as we continue this celebration of honor, let all who attend these proceedings might transcend smallness and limitation and emerge as people desirous of being our self -- best selves, as you might call each of us to be. dear lord, thank you for its inspiring such greatness in john mccain and continue to bless the united states of america. amen. >> mr. vice president, mr. speaker, colleagues, distinguished guests and the mccain family. it is an honor to welcome you thi

first group went by, shook his hand, and then turned around and said to each other, wasn't that john mccain who just shook our hands? they then came back and, of course, posed for pictures and chatted with him, and held up the rest of the line who were very eager to see john. i will never forget how thrilled these troops were to be greeted when they were first setting foot back on american soil by a true american hero, john mccain, someone who had served our country with such courage and character. by the end of the day, john had spent three hours greeting two planeloads of soldiers. he loved greeting them and posing for pictures. it was such a heartwarming, unexpected event and a very special moment, and it not only gladdened the hearts of the troops but also of the troop greeters, who were thrilled to have their hero with them. it was vintage john mccain that he stayed, even after the weather had cleared, and greeted each and every one of those troops. john mccain did what he thought was right, regardless of the political consequences. he had absolutely no interest in scoring partisan pol

senator, a doctor and john mccain is a republican. u're half his age and yet you formed a bond with him. what is the significance of that that people should take away from your deep friendship? >> john cared deeply about the senate. he fought tirelessly for the senate and invested a lot of time and care in younger senators when i first met him, he was pretty intimidating and chairman of the armed services committee, two time presidential candidate. a global leading figure and he could be gruf and he put me through my paces but once you demonstrated to him you would stand up for your own principles and push back and debate with him, he was a remarkable friend and great mentor. he had a tireless optimism and great sense of humor and he was amazing to travel with over the eight years that i had the blessing of serving with him, it just was an enormous opportunity for me to learn from someone how to work across the aisle and how to respect our veterans and how to be optimistic about our country. he never stopped surprising me and challengi

what was it like to cover and deal with the senator john mccain and john mccain the person. cinating character. he was serious about the issues, you heard him talk about the iraq war and afghanistan and policy matters. you see mccain when you are about to do a life shot with us or another network. he would wink with a twinkle in his eye. he would say what are you doing, boy? i would look over and realize i was being heckled by john mccain. my understanding is john mccain believed if we were telling the stories about what's going on and writing the stories in our nation's politics, having a relationship would help us know what he was thinking with his votes over the years. howie: i think he enjoyed the give and take with the press. he was such a fixture on the sunday shows. he was the most of frequent guest on "meet the press" ever. sometimes he got testy or i am patients with journalists. but i think he viewed it as another form of combat. >> reporter: no question. i think he enjoyed being the senior statesman on cap hill. putting his arm around a new member and explaining th

we all have our john mccain story. at times when we were moved by his stubbornness, his courage, his passion, sometimes all three at the same time. i look forward to hearing these stories and tributes from my good friends. we all grieve for cindy and the family and they'll continue to be in our prayers and lastly, i do believe, now that i've thought about it, that that's what timothy had in mind when he wrote, i have fought this good fight, i have finished the race, and i have kept the faith. so we say thank you, john mccain. >> i yield the floor. suggest the absence of a quorum. >> mr. president-- >> a quorum called. >> i ask that the quorum call be dispensed with. >> without objection. >> mr. president until the very end he served his country. until the very end. and service to john mccain meant living something unique. in all the history of the world living in service to something unique. the american, e pluribus unum, when compared to the brutal divisions of our time, but it was an idea that defined john mccain's l