Ethan Walker
John McCain was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, where he had a religious experience that he would recount many years later. McCain grew up in an Episcopal household and referred to himself as an Episcopalian as recently as 2007, later stating that he identified as a Baptist. He viewed himself as a Christian but had a distrust of the religious right and a faith that is too public, too political. McCain's mother, Roberta Wright McCain, was raised to be a strong and determined woman. She eloped to Tijuana, Mexico, in 1933 to marry John S. McCain Jr., against her mother's wishes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Roberta McCain |
| Age at Son's Burial | 106 |
| Daughter of | An oil wildcatter |
| Birthplace | Muskogee, Oklahoma |
| Husband | John S. McCain Jr. |
| Religion | Not explicitly stated, but her son John McCain was raised Episcopalian |
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What You'll Learn
- John McCain's mother, Roberta McCain, was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 1912
- Roberta McCain was raised to be a strong and determined woman
- John McCain was raised in an Episcopal household
- McCain's father told a Catholic school monsignor that his family would convert to Catholicism if that was necessary for McCain to be accepted as a student
- McCain's mother attended her son's burial at the Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland
John McCain's mother, Roberta McCain, was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 1912
John McCain was born on August 29, 1936, at Coco Solo Naval Air Station in the Panama Canal Zone. McCain was the son of naval officer John S. McCain Jr. and Roberta Wright McCain, who was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 1912. Roberta was the daughter of an oil wildcatter who retired early after making his fortune. She was raised to be a strong and determined woman who enjoyed life and made the most of her opportunities. She attended college in California and, in 1933, eloped to Tijuana, Mexico, to marry McCain's father, going against her mother's wishes.
McCain was raised in an Episcopal household, and his family moved frequently due to his father's military postings. McCain himself referred to his religion as Episcopalian as recently as 2007, before stating that he identified as a Baptist. McCain's father prayed aloud twice a day, but McCain wrote in his 1999 memoir, "Faith of My Fathers," that his father "didn't talk about God or the importance of religious devotion." McCain did not often speak publicly about his faith, and he did not consider himself an evangelical Christian. However, he did discuss his religious experiences as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, where he drew on his Episcopal roots and volunteered to preach at religious services.
Roberta McCain was a significant influence on her son's life. She was known for her beauty and personality, and she instilled in McCain important values and strengths. At the time of McCain's death in 2018, Roberta was 106 years old and attended memorial services for her son in Washington before his burial in Annapolis, Maryland.
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Roberta McCain was raised to be a strong and determined woman
Roberta McCain, the mother of John McCain, was raised to be a strong and determined woman. Born Roberta Wright in 1912 in Muskogee, Oklahoma, she was the daughter of an oil wildcatter who retired early after making his fortune. Roberta was known for her beauty and her strong personality. She was encouraged to accept the responsibilities and sacrifices that came with her choices, always with good humour. This attitude and outlook had a profound influence on her son, John McCain, who admired his mother's strength and determination.
In 1933, Roberta eloped to Tijuana, Mexico, to marry John S. McCain Jr., known as Jack, against her mother's wishes. Her husband would go on to serve in three wars, including World War Two, and achieve the rank of admiral in the U.S. Navy. Roberta's resilience was evident during her son's captivity as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. She persevered and remained strong during this challenging time.
The McCain family moved frequently due to John S. McCain Jr.'s military postings. When the family transferred to Long Beach, California, they considered converting to Catholicism to secure young John McCain's acceptance into a Catholic school. However, the conversion was unnecessary, and McCain remained an Episcopalian, attending Episcopal day and boarding schools. John McCain grew up in an Episcopal household where personal faith was largely a private matter.
John McCain himself became a man of quiet faith. He was raised Episcopalian and later attended a Southern Baptist megachurch with his family. He viewed himself as a Christian but kept his religious beliefs mostly private, preferring not to proselytize. McCain's faith was deeply personal, and he rarely spoke about it publicly. However, he did share how he kept his faith during his time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.
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John McCain was raised in an Episcopal household
McCain was the son of Roberta Wright McCain and John S. McCain Jr. His father and paternal grandfather were both four-star admirals in the United States Navy. The McCain family moved frequently as his father took up various naval postings in the United States and the Pacific. McCain's father prayed aloud on his knees twice a day, using a well-worn prayer book. McCain's mother was raised to be a strong and determined woman and was a great influence on her son's life.
Despite his religious upbringing, McCain rarely spoke publicly about his Christian beliefs. However, he did discuss his faith while talking about his time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, where he was held for five years. McCain drew on his Episcopal roots during his time as a POW, praying more often and fervently than he ever had before. He also volunteered to preach at religious services that were eventually permitted in the prison.
McCain's religious beliefs were influenced by his military background, and he was more reserved when discussing faith than some of his political opponents. McCain's biographer, Paul Alexander, noted that McCain was a "very spiritual person" but ultimately "a military man" at his core. McCain's relative reticence to speak about religion publicly, as well as his history of criticising some evangelical Christian leaders, created a rocky relationship with religious conservatives at times.
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McCain's father told a Catholic school monsignor that his family would convert to Catholicism if that was necessary for McCain to be accepted as a student
John McCain was born on August 29, 1936, at Coco Solo Naval Air Station in the Panama Canal Zone. His mother, Roberta Wright McCain, was married to John S. McCain Jr., known as Jack, who served in World War Two and became an admiral in the U.S. Navy. Roberta McCain was a strong and determined woman who greatly influenced her son's life.
As a military family, the McCains moved frequently. On one such occasion, when the family moved to Long Beach, California, McCain's father told a Catholic school monsignor that his family would convert to Catholicism if that was a prerequisite for McCain's admission to the school. However, McCain was accepted without having to convert and remained an Episcopalian.
McCain attended Episcopal High School, a private preparatory boarding school in Alexandria, Virginia. He excelled at wrestling and graduated in 1954. He referred to himself as an Episcopalian until 2007, after which he identified as a Baptist. He attended a Phoenix Baptist church with his family for many years, although he never became an official member.
John McCain was raised in an Episcopal household, and his great-grandfather was an Episcopal minister. He rarely spoke publicly about his Christian beliefs, but he often shared how he kept his faith during his time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. McCain's religious beliefs were deeply personal, and he preferred to keep them private.
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McCain's mother attended her son's burial at the Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland
John McCain, the late senator and former prisoner of war, was a man of faith. Although he was not an evangelical Christian, he identified as a Christian and was raised in the Episcopal Church. McCain's faith was largely a private matter, and he did not often speak about it publicly. However, he did acknowledge the importance of prayer in his life, especially during his time as a prisoner of war.
McCain's mother, Roberta McCain, played a significant role in his life and attended her son's burial at the Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland. At 106 years old, she was present at the memorial services held in Washington before the burial. Roberta McCain, born Roberta Wright in 1912 in Muskogee, Oklahoma, was known for her beauty and strong personality. McCain himself wrote about his mother's influence in his 2005 book, "Character Is Destiny," praising her strength and determination.
The McCain family has a long history of military service, with McCain's father and paternal grandfather both serving as four-star admirals in the United States Navy. The family frequently moved due to various naval postings, resulting in McCain attending about 20 different schools. Despite the family's religious background, McCain's father did not often speak about God or religious devotion, and McCain himself became more comfortable with his faith later in life.
During his time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, McCain drew on his Episcopal roots and volunteered to preach at religious services held at the prison. He recalled one Christmas in captivity when he read portions of the story of the birth of Christ to his fellow prisoners, considering it a sacred moment. McCain's faith provided him with strength and purpose during his captivity, and he later reflected on the impact of prayer during his time as a POW.
John McCain's burial at the Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland, was a solemn occasion attended by his mother, Roberta McCain, who witnessed her son's final resting place after a life of service and dedication to his country.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Roberta McCain, John McCain's mother, was not Catholic.
John McCain was raised in the Episcopal Church and later attended a Southern Baptist megachurch.
John McCain described himself as a spiritual person and said that he prayed and received guidance. He also said that he believed in a Higher Being that had a mission for him in his life.
John McCain wrote in his 2005 book, "Character Is Destiny", that his mother "remains a great influence in my life." He credited her for teaching him strength and determination.
