Annette Bening on Her Friendship with John McCain

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: And you know him pretty well. You and your husband, you were — I believe, you were at the Liaoning State when he died.

ANNETTE BENING, ACTRESS, “THE REPORT”: Yes. And the essence of John McCain’s speech on the floor of the Senate when the report was released, which is when he made this incredible speech, he said, it’s important to remember that torture is really about us. It’s about the perpetrator of the torture. And not only has it been proven to be ineffective and we know that, but he said it’s — of course, it’s a stain on us. And this is a man who can speak moral authority after having been extensively tortured in Vietnam. So, I was privileged to know Senator McCain. He was a great friend. I miss him. We all miss him. And it’s such an important — he’s such an important figure, isn’t he?

AMANPOUR: But interesting, because you are known as among the preeminent Hollywood liberals. Certainly, your husband is and I think you are too. How did you become friendly with John McCain?

BENING: Senator McCain was the liaison between the military and the Congress when he first was out of, — you know, when he came home from Vietnam. That was one of his first jobs. And he became very friendly with Senator Gary Hart. And in fact, he was — Gary Hart was at the wedding between Cindy and John, and they became very good friends and remained friends. So, my husband is very good friends with Senator Hart. So, that’s how they ended up meeting. And then, over the years, so, when John would come to Los Angeles, he would come to our house and tell us stories. Tell our kids story. It was wonderful. And he and —

AMANPOUR: So, it really had the political instruction —

BENING: Exactly.

AMANPOUR: — from the top —

BENING: Yes.

AMANPOUR: — and young age.

BENING: Yes. And it — of course, John was a Republican.

AMANPOUR: Yes.

BENING: So, it was good for my kids to hear from him and —

AMANPOUR: But that’s interesting too because your parents are Republicans.

BENING: Yes.

AMANPOUR: If I’m not mistaken, may have even voted for Donald Trump.

BENING: Oh, absolutely.

AMANPOUR: Did vote for Donald Trump?

BENING: Oh, yes.

AMANPOUR: Which you didn’t?

BENING: Correct.

AMANPOUR: How do you have that conversation when everything or any conversation about anything? I mean, politics goes through people’s bedrooms, through their dining rooms, through their neighborhoods. And it seems today, you can barely discuss anything rationally anymore. John McCain was an exception.

BENING: Yes, he was. And, of course, it’s a great gift to me and to my family that my parents are Republicans because we love them so, so dearly. And I — you know, I was raised in a Nixon household. My parents don’t talk about politics a lot. We talk about politics incessantly in our house with our kids. But my parents are more self-spoken about it but they are dedicated Republicans and I respect that. So, I know right now, we’re in such a divisive time when it’s hard for people to find a middle ground, certainly, within our public servants, that’s true. So, no, it’s one of the good things in life.