05.05.2021

Cindy McCain Remembers Her Late Husband in New Book

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CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: So let’s turn to you as the life partner and widow of John McCain just in this aspect. He had a totally gracious concession speech after he lost the 2008 election. So I want to start by just playing a snippet of what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ): I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together, to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited. Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMANPOUR: Now, that, of course, is the traditional political concession speech which he delivered. Many say it was one of his best. When you think of that then, of course, in 2008, and now — and now, with your book, you’re sort of pulling back so many of the curtains — what do you think your husband would have made of the situation right now?

CINDY MCCAIN: Oh, he — obviously, some of this is going on prior to his death. And he was very angry about it and very disappointed. And I know he would be even more so now. What happened on January 6 was — would have — I’m not sure how — what my husband would exactly done, but he probably would have gone outside of the Mall and tried to stop them. It just — men like my husband, men and women like my husband and others, who live by the code of conduct and really serve their country because it is serving a cause greater, do it for the right reasons. Right now, we’re being controlled by quite a few of these people that aren’t doing it for the right reasons and believe that whatever makes them better makes the party better. And that’s not the case.

About This Episode EXPAND

Christiane speaks with South African Foreign Minister Nalendi Pandor about what’s ahead in Africa’s fight against COVID. Kara Swisher discusses the upholding of President Trump’s ban from Facebook. Cindy McCain remembers her late husband in a new book, “Stronger: Courage, Hope & Humor in My Life with John McCain.” Barkha Dutt talks India’s systemic failure in dealing with the pandemic.

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