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Photos: John McCain, Vietnam War hero and maverick politician, dies at 81

America paid tribute Sunday to John McCain, the Vietnam War hero and two-time presidential candidate with a legendary temper whose personal courage and insistence on treating even his foes with respect earned him near-universal admiration. McCain died on Saturday, four days shy of his 82nd birthday, following a yearlong battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer. A naval bomber pilot, prisoner of war, conservative maverick, a giant of the Senate and twice-defeated presidential candidate -- a look at the life of Arizona senator John McCain.

Updated on: Aug 27, 2018 12:24 PM IST

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US Senator John McCain (R-AZ) looks on during a press conference about his resistance to the so-called “Skinny Repeal” of the Affordable Care Act on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, on July 27, 2017. McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam who ran for president in 2008 as a maverick Republican and became a prominent critic of President Donald Trump, died on Saturday. He was 81. (Aaron P. Bernstein / REUTERS File)

Updated on Aug 27, 2018 12:24 PM

US Senator John McCain (R-AZ) looks on during a press conference about his resistance to the so-called “Skinny Repeal” of the Affordable Care Act on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, on July 27, 2017. McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam who ran for president in 2008 as a maverick Republican and became a prominent critic of President Donald Trump, died on Saturday. He was 81. (Aaron P. Bernstein / REUTERS File)

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John McCain (Bottom R) poses with his US Navy squadron in 1965. McCain flew attack planes off aircraft carriers during the Vietnam War. A senator from Arizona for more than three decades, McCain had been suffering from brain cancer since July 2017. (US National Archives via REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 27, 2018 12:24 PM

John McCain (Bottom R) poses with his US Navy squadron in 1965. McCain flew attack planes off aircraft carriers during the Vietnam War. A senator from Arizona for more than three decades, McCain had been suffering from brain cancer since July 2017. (US National Archives via REUTERS)

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An October 26, 1967 photo shows John McCain pulled out of a Hanoi lake by a mix of North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Vietnamese citizens. In October 1967, his A-4 Skyhawk was shot down on a bombing mission over North Vietnam’s capital and he suffered two broken arms and a broken leg. A mob dragged him from a lake, broke his shoulder and stabbed him. (REUTERS File)

Updated on Aug 27, 2018 12:24 PM

An October 26, 1967 photo shows John McCain pulled out of a Hanoi lake by a mix of North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Vietnamese citizens. In October 1967, his A-4 Skyhawk was shot down on a bombing mission over North Vietnam’s capital and he suffered two broken arms and a broken leg. A mob dragged him from a lake, broke his shoulder and stabbed him. (REUTERS File)

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Navy Lt. Comdr. John S. McCain is interviewed about his experiences as a prisoner of war during the war in Vietnam, April 24, 1973. Held at the notorious “Hanoi Hilton” prison and other sites, McCain was beaten and tortured, suffering broken bones and dysentery. He was released on March 14, 1973, but left with permanent infirmities. (Library of Congress / Thomas J. O’Halloran / Handout via REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 27, 2018 12:24 PM

Navy Lt. Comdr. John S. McCain is interviewed about his experiences as a prisoner of war during the war in Vietnam, April 24, 1973. Held at the notorious “Hanoi Hilton” prison and other sites, McCain was beaten and tortured, suffering broken bones and dysentery. He was released on March 14, 1973, but left with permanent infirmities. (Library of Congress / Thomas J. O’Halloran / Handout via REUTERS)

5/15

US Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain (R-AZ) points into the crowd at an airport campaign rally in Roswell, New Mexico November 3, 2008. McCain, the son and grandson of US Navy admirals, was elected to the US House of Representatives in 1982 after more than two decades of Navy service. (Brian Snyder / REUTERS File)

Updated on Aug 27, 2018 12:24 PM

US Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain (R-AZ) points into the crowd at an airport campaign rally in Roswell, New Mexico November 3, 2008. McCain, the son and grandson of US Navy admirals, was elected to the US House of Representatives in 1982 after more than two decades of Navy service. (Brian Snyder / REUTERS File)

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US President George W. Bush (R) and presumptive presidential nominee John McCain after a meeting at the White House on March 5, 2008. Flags flew at half-staff at the White House on Sunday. Trump tweeted his “deepest sympathies and respect” to McCain’s family. All five living former presidents - Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter - paid tribute to McCain’s courage and character. (Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS File)

Updated on Aug 27, 2018 12:24 PM

US President George W. Bush (R) and presumptive presidential nominee John McCain after a meeting at the White House on March 5, 2008. Flags flew at half-staff at the White House on Sunday. Trump tweeted his “deepest sympathies and respect” to McCain’s family. All five living former presidents - Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter - paid tribute to McCain’s courage and character. (Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS File)

7/15

John McCain (C) gives a tour of the Rotunda to Vietnam's Vice Minister of Defense Lieutenant General Do Ba Ty (2nd R) and his entourage at the US Capitol in Washington, June 20, 2013. McCain, a traditionally Republican foreign policy hawk, was admired in both parties for championing civility and compromise during an era of acrid partisanship in US politics. (Jonathan Ernst / REUTERS File)

Updated on Aug 27, 2018 12:24 PM

John McCain (C) gives a tour of the Rotunda to Vietnam's Vice Minister of Defense Lieutenant General Do Ba Ty (2nd R) and his entourage at the US Capitol in Washington, June 20, 2013. McCain, a traditionally Republican foreign policy hawk, was admired in both parties for championing civility and compromise during an era of acrid partisanship in US politics. (Jonathan Ernst / REUTERS File)

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John McCain and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin during a campaign rally for McCain at the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson, Arizona on March 26, 2010. Edged out by George W. Bush for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, he became his party’s White House candidate eight years later. After gambling on Palin as his running mate, McCain lost to Obama, who became the first black US president. (Joshua Lott / REUTERS File)

Updated on Aug 27, 2018 12:24 PM

John McCain and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin during a campaign rally for McCain at the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson, Arizona on March 26, 2010. Edged out by George W. Bush for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, he became his party’s White House candidate eight years later. After gambling on Palin as his running mate, McCain lost to Obama, who became the first black US president. (Joshua Lott / REUTERS File)

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US President Barack Obama speaks during a meeting with members from both parties of Congress at the White House on June 25, 2009. Obama said in a statement that he and McCain, shared a belief in American ideals. “We saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world.” (Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS File)

Updated on Aug 27, 2018 12:24 PM

US President Barack Obama speaks during a meeting with members from both parties of Congress at the White House on June 25, 2009. Obama said in a statement that he and McCain, shared a belief in American ideals. “We saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world.” (Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS File)

10/15

John McCain waves as he takes the stage during his election night rally in Phoenix on November 4, 2008. McCain was a frequent critic and target of his fellow Republican Trump, who was elected president in November 2016. McCain denounced Trump for, among other things, his praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders the senator described as foreign “tyrants.” (Brian Snyder / REUTERS File)

Updated on Aug 27, 2018 12:24 PM

John McCain waves as he takes the stage during his election night rally in Phoenix on November 4, 2008. McCain was a frequent critic and target of his fellow Republican Trump, who was elected president in November 2016. McCain denounced Trump for, among other things, his praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders the senator described as foreign “tyrants.” (Brian Snyder / REUTERS File)

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John McCain and his wife Cindy celebrate during a rally in Michigan on January 9, 2008. In running for president in 2008, McCain tried to succeed Bush at time when the US was mired in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and stuck in a financial crisis. It was a stark contrast between McCain, then a 72-year-old veteran of Washington, and the 47-year-old Obama, who offered a “Yes, we can” message of change. (Jim Young / REUTERS File)

Updated on Aug 27, 2018 12:24 PM

John McCain and his wife Cindy celebrate during a rally in Michigan on January 9, 2008. In running for president in 2008, McCain tried to succeed Bush at time when the US was mired in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and stuck in a financial crisis. It was a stark contrast between McCain, then a 72-year-old veteran of Washington, and the 47-year-old Obama, who offered a “Yes, we can” message of change. (Jim Young / REUTERS File)

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John McCain speaks at a campaign rally in Durango, Colorado on October 24, 2008. In Congress, McCain prided himself on his history of working across party lines on immigration, climate change and campaign finance reform. He supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq but also spoke out against the administration’s use of waterboarding, and other extreme interrogation tactics in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. (Brian Snyder / REUTERS File)

Updated on Aug 27, 2018 12:24 PM

John McCain speaks at a campaign rally in Durango, Colorado on October 24, 2008. In Congress, McCain prided himself on his history of working across party lines on immigration, climate change and campaign finance reform. He supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq but also spoke out against the administration’s use of waterboarding, and other extreme interrogation tactics in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. (Brian Snyder / REUTERS File)

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Senator John McCain heads to the Senate floor ahead of votes on Capitol Hill in Washington on December 6, 2017. He was the central figure in one of the most dramatic congressional moments in Trump’s presidency when he returned to Washington shortly after his brain cancer diagnosis for a middle-of-the-night vote in July 2017. (Aaron P. Bernstein / REUTERS File)

Updated on Aug 27, 2018 12:24 PM

Senator John McCain heads to the Senate floor ahead of votes on Capitol Hill in Washington on December 6, 2017. He was the central figure in one of the most dramatic congressional moments in Trump’s presidency when he returned to Washington shortly after his brain cancer diagnosis for a middle-of-the-night vote in July 2017. (Aaron P. Bernstein / REUTERS File)

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An image from video shows John McCain acknowledging applause as he arrives on the floor of the Senate for a vote on healthcare reform on July 25, 2017. Still bearing a black eye and scar from surgery, McCain gave a thumbs-down signal in a vote to scuttle a Trump-backed bill that would have repealed Obamacare and increased the number of Americans without health insurance by millions. (Senate TV / Handout via REUTERS File)

Updated on Aug 27, 2018 12:24 PM

An image from video shows John McCain acknowledging applause as he arrives on the floor of the Senate for a vote on healthcare reform on July 25, 2017. Still bearing a black eye and scar from surgery, McCain gave a thumbs-down signal in a vote to scuttle a Trump-backed bill that would have repealed Obamacare and increased the number of Americans without health insurance by millions. (Senate TV / Handout via REUTERS File)

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Republican presidential nominee John McCain speaks at a rally in Defiance, Ohio on October 30, 2008. On July 25, 2017, McCain delivered a Senate floor speech not long after his cancer diagnosis that was widely seen as his farewell address. It called on fellow Republicans to stand up to Trump and for all lawmakers to work together to keep America as a “beacon of liberty” in the world. (Brian Snyder / REUTERS File)

Updated on Aug 27, 2018 12:24 PM

Republican presidential nominee John McCain speaks at a rally in Defiance, Ohio on October 30, 2008. On July 25, 2017, McCain delivered a Senate floor speech not long after his cancer diagnosis that was widely seen as his farewell address. It called on fellow Republicans to stand up to Trump and for all lawmakers to work together to keep America as a “beacon of liberty” in the world. (Brian Snyder / REUTERS File)

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