Cindy McCain said Sunday she encourages people to perform acts of civility to honor the first anniversary of the passing of her husband, the late Sen. John McCain.
The Navy man who represented Arizona for more than three decades in the Senate until his death from brain cancer last year was known for working closely with Democrats.
President Trump often criticized McCain, saying he wasn’t a war hero because he was captured in Vietnam. He also has continuously criticized McCain’s deciding vote to side with Democrats and against repealing Obamacare.
Mrs. McCain told CNN’s “State of the Union” the late Arizona Republican would work across the aisle and was a “voice of reason.”
She encouraged people to “go seek someone perhaps you disagree with vehemently.”
The McCain family have sparred publicly with Mr. Trump and did not invite the president to attend his funeral. Instead, Vice President Joseph R. Biden, who is now leading the 2020 Democratic presidential field, was the one chosen to deliver the eulogy.
Former Senate colleagues took to Twitter on Sunday to honor his memory.
Democrat Heidi Heitkamp, who lost her North Dakota Senate seat to a GOP challenger last year, honored McCain with #ActsOfCivility.
“I will always treasure our work together to improve lives of Native Americans across the country, esp. our legislation which established Amber Alerts on reservations. I honor him today by continuing our work with tribes,” she tweeted.
Former Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, who lost reelection in 2016 to a Democrat, also celebrated McCain’s legacy.
“Missing my friend and mentor John McCain and his courage and integrity. The last time I saw him before he died, we were sitting at his ranch looking at the creek and he told me, ’Kelly, when I’m gone, whatever you do, just do the right thing and it will be good,’” she tweeted.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.
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