For John McCain, a lifetime of courage, contradictions, and contrarianism came down to one vote, in the middle of the night, in the twilight of his career. The fate of President Donald Trump’s long effort to repeal Barack Obama’s health care law hung in the balance as a Senate roll call dragged on past 1 a.m. on a July night in 2017. Then came McCain — 80 years old, recently diagnosed with brain cancer, his face still scarred from surgery, striding with purpose toward the well of the Senate. The Arizona Republican raised his right arm, paused for dramatic effect and flashed a determined thumbs-down, drawing gasps from both sides of the aisle. Trump’s health care bill was dead. McCain’s lifelong reputation as free thinker, never to be intimidated, was very much alive. (Nancy Benac, Associated Press)
