he remained a troublesome pleeb to the end. those in political power were not exempt. at various points throughout his long career he confronted policies and practices he believed were unworthy of his country. to the face of those in authority john mccain would insist we are better than this. america is better than this. john is the first to tell you was not a perfect man but he dedicated his life to national ideals that are as perfect as men and women have yet conceived. he was motivated by a vision of america carried ever ever upward on the strength of its principals. he saw our country not only physical place for power but as the carrier of intkaouring human assprations. as an advocate for the oppressed, as a defender of the peace, as promise unwavering,
to some prepackaged version of what a senator should be and he didn t want a memorial that was prepackaged either. it also showed john s disdain for self pity. he had been to hell and back. and yet somehow never lost his energy or his optimism or his zest for life. so cancer did not scare him. and he would maintain that buoyant spirit to the very end, too stubborn to sit still, opinionated as ever. fiercely devoted to his friends and most of all to his family. it showed his irreverence. his sense of humor, a little bit of a mischievous streak.
race or religion or gender. and i m certain that in those moments that have been reafford during the campaign he saw himself as defending america s character, not just mine. he considered it the imperative of every citizen who loves this country to treat all people fairly. and finally while john and i disagreed on all kinds of foreign policy issues, we stood together on america s role as the one nation believing that with great power and great blessings comes great responsibility. that burden born most heavily by our men and women in uniform.
john has moved on. he would probably not want us to dwell on it. but we are better for presence among us. the world is smaller for his departure and we will remember him as he was. unwavering, undimmed, unequal. it [ applause ] president bush and his comments today at the celebration of john mccain. asking if president obama would also speak at his funeral.
i m about to share with you right now comments from both presidents, bush and obama about the political life led by senator john mccain the powerful example he set. first the 43rd president, george w. bush. thing about john s life was the amazing sweep of it from a tiny prison cell in vietnam floor of the united states senate. from trouble making plea to presidential candidate. wherever john passed throughout the world, people immediately knew there was a leader untheir midst. and one epic life was written the curage and greatness of our country. for john and me there was personal journey. our hard fought political history. back in the day he could frustrate me. and i know he d say the same thing about me.