Joe McCain

Joseph Pinckney McCain II (born April 26, 1942) is an American stage actor, newspaper reporter, and the brother and only living sibling of the late U.S. Senator and two-time presidential candidate John McCain.

Early life and education Joseph Pinckney McCain II was born to John S. McCain Jr. and Roberta McCain on April 26, 1942, in the naval base hospital in New London, Connecticut. He entered the United States Naval Academy, but left in 1961 during his first year. Although he had tried to emulate his older brother, father (against his advice), grandfather and forebears, he later said "I just didn't like all the formations and inspections and things like that." In 1970, McCain sat in a bamboo cage in Los Angeles, eating simulated POW food to dramatize the plight of POWs. In the same year, he and two other brothers of POWs traveled around the U.S. circulating petitions to be presented to North Vietnamese representatives, and sought the signatures of opponents of the Vietnam War as well as those supporting it. He then helped bring 13 tons of mail to the North Vietnamese delegation at the Paris Peace Talks, demanding humane treatment for the POWs. He worked at the San Diego Union and San Diego Evening Tribune, making over 100 campaign appearances.

Possible congressional run In 2001, Republican Party activists in Northern Virginia tried to recruit McCain to run for the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 8th congressional district against the incumbent Democrat Jim Moran. They believed McCain's personal characteristics, combined with his brother's name and appeal to moderate voters, would allow an effective challenge.

2008 presidential election During his brother's 2008 presidential campaign, McCain acted as a low-key surrogate. McCain also received press coverage for remarks made in early October. In the context of describing his naval service postings in Arlington, Virginia and Alexandria, Virginia, McCain jokingly described northern Virginia as "communist country", for which he later apologized.