Joe McCain
Encyclopedia
Joseph Pinckney "Joe" McCain II (born April 26, 1942) is a stage actor, newspaper reporter, and brother of U.S. Senator and two-time presidential candidate John McCain
.
and Roberta McCain
on April 26, 1942 in the naval base
hospital in New London, Connecticut
. His father's perpetual travelling for Navy assignments meant that Joe had attended 17 different schools by the time he completed 9th grade. He entered the United States Naval Academy
, but left in 1961 during his first year. Although he had tried to emulate his older brother, father (against his advice), grandfather and forebears, he later said "I just didn't like all the formations and inspections and things like that." He then attended the College of William & Mary, where he later said he "discovered fraternities and beer and girls."
and in 1965 to 1966 served as an enlisted man aboard the during the Vietnam War
.
During that conflict and his brother's long time as a prisoner of war, the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia, which included Joe, heightened awareness of the POWs' plight. In 1970, Joe McCain sat in a bamboo cage in Los Angeles
, eating simulated POW food to dramatize the plight of POWs. In the same year, he and two other brothers of POWs travelled around the U.S. circulating petitions to be presented to North Vietnam
ese representatives, and sought the signatures of opponents of the Vietnam War
as well as those supporting it. He then helped bring 13 tons of mail and such to the North Vietnamese delegation at the Paris Peace Talks, demanding humane treatment for the POWs.
and medical school
before moving to acting
. He worked at the San Diego Union and San Diego Evening Tribune, but got in trouble at one for perpetrating a prank. He subsequently became a dinner theatre actor.
McCain married around 1998, but divorced in 2008, having no children.
in his home state of Virginia
, making over 100 campaign appearances. He expressed anger at some of the tactics that George W. Bush
used in defeating his brother, and said that the Republican Party
needed to be reformed.
tried to recruit McCain to run for the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 8th congressional district
against the incumbent Democrat
Jim Moran
. They believed McCain's personal characteristics, combined with his brother's name and appeal to moderate voters, would allow an effective challenge. McCain declined to run, however, due to the growing Democratic tilt of the district, saying, "I don't mind running uphill for anything. But it looked like it was going to be a vertical wall."
during the Iraq War, saying "To be fighting from supposedly the higher ground, and yet to have allowed this kind of stuff that goes on in Abu Ghraib – it destroys the fact we're fighting for the better cause. It's just awful."
, McCain acted as a low-key surrogate. He was aware of the past foibles of presidential siblings and offered self-deprecating lines such as, "I'm the discount John McCain. They call me McKmart."
On October 15, 2008, The Baltimore Sun
obtained an e-mail written by McCain with the subject title "Shoaling" that spoke about his unhappiness with unnamed top campaign officials who "control the message" of his brother's run for president.
McCain also received press coverage for remarks made in early October. In the context of describing his naval service postings in Arlington, Virginia and Alexandria, Virginia
, McCain jokingly described northern Virginia as "communist country", for which he later apologized.
On October 18, 2008, Joe McCain made a phone call to the emergency number 911
in Northern Virginia, complaining about being stuck in traffic, a conversation that he ended with an obscenity. Local police officials were not pleased, McCain said he did not think the epithet would be heard, and considerable negative publicity ensued.
On October 24, 2008, Joe McCain withdrew from campaign activities and apologized for calling both 911 and the Alexandria Police.
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
.
Early life and education
Joseph Pickney McCain II was born to John S. McCain, Jr.John S. McCain, Jr.
John Sidney "Jack" McCain Jr. was a United States Navy admiral, who served in conflicts from the 1940s through the 1970s, including as the Commander, United States Pacific Command....
and Roberta McCain
Roberta McCain
Roberta Wright McCain is the widow of Admiral John S. McCain, Jr. and mother of the Republican Arizona Senator and two-time Presidential candidate John S. McCain III.-Background:...
on April 26, 1942 in the naval base
Naval Submarine Base New London
Naval Submarine Base New London is the United States Navy's primary submarine base, the "Home of the Submarine Force", and "the Submarine Capital of the World".-History:...
hospital in New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
. His father's perpetual travelling for Navy assignments meant that Joe had attended 17 different schools by the time he completed 9th grade. He entered the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
, but left in 1961 during his first year. Although he had tried to emulate his older brother, father (against his advice), grandfather and forebears, he later said "I just didn't like all the formations and inspections and things like that." He then attended the College of William & Mary, where he later said he "discovered fraternities and beer and girls."
Vietnam era
Joe McCain was a member of the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and in 1965 to 1966 served as an enlisted man aboard the during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
During that conflict and his brother's long time as a prisoner of war, the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia, which included Joe, heightened awareness of the POWs' plight. In 1970, Joe McCain sat in a bamboo cage in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, eating simulated POW food to dramatize the plight of POWs. In the same year, he and two other brothers of POWs travelled around the U.S. circulating petitions to be presented to North Vietnam
North Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
ese representatives, and sought the signatures of opponents of the Vietnam War
Opposition to the Vietnam War
The movement against US involvment in the in Vietnam War began in the United States with demonstrations in 1964 and grew in strength in later years. The US became polarized between those who advocated continued involvement in Vietnam, and those who wanted peace. Peace movements consisted largely of...
as well as those supporting it. He then helped bring 13 tons of mail and such to the North Vietnamese delegation at the Paris Peace Talks, demanding humane treatment for the POWs.
Career
Following Vietnam, McCain tried both journalismJournalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
and medical school
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
before moving to acting
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
. He worked at the San Diego Union and San Diego Evening Tribune, but got in trouble at one for perpetrating a prank. He subsequently became a dinner theatre actor.
McCain married around 1998, but divorced in 2008, having no children.
2000 presidential election
McCain was a volunteer manager for his brother's 2000 presidential campaignJohn McCain presidential campaign, 2000
John McCain, the United States Senator from Arizona, launched his first candidacy for the presidency of the United States in the 2000 presidential election....
in his home state of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, making over 100 campaign appearances. He expressed anger at some of the tactics that George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
used in defeating his brother, and said that the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
needed to be reformed.
Possible congressional run
In 2001, Republican Party activists in Northern VirginiaNorthern Virginia
Northern Virginia consists of several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C...
tried to recruit McCain to run for the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 8th congressional district
Virginia's 8th congressional district
Virginia's Eighth Congressional District is a U.S. congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The residents of the 8th District are currently represented by Democratic Congressman Jim Moran, first elected to the 8th's seat in the U.S...
against the incumbent Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Jim Moran
Jim Moran
James Patrick "Jim" Moran, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1991. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is located in Northern Virginia and includes the cities of Falls Church and Alexandria, all of Arlington County, and a portion of Fairfax County.Jim Moran was...
. They believed McCain's personal characteristics, combined with his brother's name and appeal to moderate voters, would allow an effective challenge. McCain declined to run, however, due to the growing Democratic tilt of the district, saying, "I don't mind running uphill for anything. But it looked like it was going to be a vertical wall."
Political views
In 2005, McCain was vocal in his reaction to revelations of Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuseAbu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse
Beginning in 2004, human rights violations in the form of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, including torture, rape, sodomy, and homicide of prisoners held in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq came to public attention...
during the Iraq War, saying "To be fighting from supposedly the higher ground, and yet to have allowed this kind of stuff that goes on in Abu Ghraib – it destroys the fact we're fighting for the better cause. It's just awful."
2008 presidential election
During his brother's 2008 presidential campaignJohn McCain presidential campaign, 2008
John McCain, the senior United States Senator from Arizona, launched his second candidacy for the presidency of the United States in an unsuccessful bid to win the 2008 presidential election. His candidacy, in the works for a number of years, was informally announced on February 28, 2007 during a...
, McCain acted as a low-key surrogate. He was aware of the past foibles of presidential siblings and offered self-deprecating lines such as, "I'm the discount John McCain. They call me McKmart."
On October 15, 2008, The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
obtained an e-mail written by McCain with the subject title "Shoaling" that spoke about his unhappiness with unnamed top campaign officials who "control the message" of his brother's run for president.
McCain also received press coverage for remarks made in early October. In the context of describing his naval service postings in Arlington, Virginia and Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, McCain jokingly described northern Virginia as "communist country", for which he later apologized.
On October 18, 2008, Joe McCain made a phone call to the emergency number 911
911
Year 911 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.-Africa:* Rebellion of the Kutama Berbers against the Fatimid Caliphate...
in Northern Virginia, complaining about being stuck in traffic, a conversation that he ended with an obscenity. Local police officials were not pleased, McCain said he did not think the epithet would be heard, and considerable negative publicity ensued.
On October 24, 2008, Joe McCain withdrew from campaign activities and apologized for calling both 911 and the Alexandria Police.