John McCain's Final Letter To Nation: He 'Lived And Died A Proud American'
NEW YORK (CBS News) - In a letter laying out his final thoughts, Senator John McCain said that while he has regrets in his 81 years of life he "not trade a day of my life, in good or bad times, for the best day of anyone else's" saying he was the "luckiest person on earth" even in his final days of battling cancer.
Political strategist and longtime McCain aide Rick Davis read McCain's last letter, addressed to Americans, during a press conference on Monday afternoon where he provided details of final arrangements for McCain's memorial services in Arizona and Washington. McCain died on Saturday surrounded by family, ending his over year-long battle with brain cancer.
READ: Tributes Flood Twitter Following Sen. John McCain's Death
In the touching letter, McCain thanked his family, the nation and his constituents he served at home, saying he owed it all "to America."
"To be connected to America's causes -- liberty equal justice, respect for the dignity of all people -- brings happiness more sublime than life's fleeting pleasures," wrote McCain. He added, "Our identities and sense of worth are not circumscribed by enlarged by serving good causes bigger than ourselves."
McCain, a military war hero often described as a "true patriot", said he "lived and died a proud American."
"We are citizens of the world's greatest republic, a nation of ideals not of blood and soil. We are blessed and are a blessing to humanity when we uphold and advance those ideals at home and in the world," he wrote.
In what may have been a veiled criticism of President Trump's desire for a border wall and his immigration policies, McCain wrote this:
"We weaken our greatness when we confuse our patriotism with tribal rivalries that have sown resentment and hatred and violence in all the corners of the globe. We weaken it when we hide behind walls, rather than tear them down, when we doubt the power of our ideals, rather than trust them to be the great force for change they have always been."
He added, "We are three-hundred-and-twenty-five million opinionated, vociferous individuals. We argue and compete and sometimes even vilify each other in our raucous public debates. But we have always had so much more in common with each other than in disagreement. If only we remember that and give each other the benefit of the presumption that we all love our country, we will get through these challenging times. We will come through them stronger than before. We always do."
In closing, McCain quoted the end of his 2008 concession speech to Barack Obama, ending his missive an acknowledgment that he still had "the heartfelt faith in Americans that I felt so powerfully that evening."
"Do not despair of our present difficulties but believe always in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here. Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history. We make history. Farewell, fellow Americans. God bless you, and God bless America," McCain wrote.
Read McCain's full statement below:
"My fellow Americans, whom I have gratefully served for sixty years, and especially my fellow Arizonans,
"Thank you for the privilege of serving you and for the rewarding life that service in uniform and in public office has allowed me to lead. I have tried to serve our country honorably. I have made mistakes, but I hope my love for America will be weighed favorably against them.
"I have often observed that I am the luckiest person on earth. I feel that way even now as I prepare for the end of my life. I have loved my life, all of it. I have had experiences, adventures and friendships enough for ten satisfying lives, and I am so thankful. Like most people, I have regrets. But I would not trade a day of my life, in good or bad times, for the best day of anyone else's.
"I owe that satisfaction to the love of my family. No man ever had a more loving wife or children he was prouder of than I am of mine. And I owe it to America. To be connected to America's causes – liberty, equal justice, respect for the dignity of all people – brings happiness more sublime than life's fleeting pleasures. Our identities and sense of worth are not circumscribed but enlarged by serving good causes bigger than ourselves.
"'Fellow Americans' – that association has meant more to me than any other. I lived and died a proud American. We are citizens of the world's greatest republic, a nation of ideals, not blood and soil. We are blessed and are a blessing to humanity when we uphold and advance those ideals at home and in the world. We have helped liberate more people from tyranny and poverty than ever before in history. We have acquired great wealth and power in the process.
"We weaken our greatness when we confuse our patriotism with tribal rivalries that have sown resentment and hatred and violence in all the corners of the globe. We weaken it when we hide behind walls, rather than tear them down, when we doubt the power of our ideals, rather than trust them to be the great force for change they have always been.
"We are three-hundred-and-twenty-five million opinionated, vociferous individuals. We argue and compete and sometimes even vilify each other in our raucous public debates. But we have always had so much more in common with each other than in disagreement. If only we remember that and give each other the benefit of the presumption that we all love our country we will get through these challenging times. We will come through them stronger than before. We always do.
"Ten years ago, I had the privilege to concede defeat in the election for president. I want to end my farewell to you with the heartfelt faith in Americans that I felt so powerfully that evening.
I feel it powerfully still.
"Do not despair of our present difficulties but believe always in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here. Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history. We make history.
"Farewell, fellow Americans. God bless you, and God bless America."
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