Roberta McCain Is The Mother of Presidential Candidate John McCain

Roberta Wright McCain is the widow of Admiral John S. McCain, Jr. (1911-1981) and mother of Arizona Senator and presidential candidate John S. McCain III.Her parents were married in Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas, on June 18, 1901. Her father was Archibald Wright, a Los Angeles oil wildcatter, born October 23, 1875, near Kossuth, Alcorn County, Mississippi. Wright died in Los Angeles, California, on January 13, 1971. Her mother, Myrtle Fletcher, was born January 8, 1885, in Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas. Fletcher died in Los Angeles, California, on December 29, 1972. McCain and her twin sister, Rowena, were born in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She married John S. McCain, Jr., on January 21, 1933, in Caesar's Bar, Tijuana, Mexico.

McCain's son, John S. McCain III, was held as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam for five and a half years. When notified upon his release on March 15, 1973, that he had shouted expletives at his captors, Mrs. McCain's response was, "Johnny, I'm going to come over there and wash your mouth out with soap."John McCain has said of his mother: "My mother was raised to be a strong, determined woman who thoroughly enjoyed life, and always tried to make the most of her opportunities. She was encouraged to accept, graciously and with good humor, the responsibilities and sacrifices her choices have required of her. I am grateful to her for the strengths she taught me by example."Roberta McCain is still active and, at age 96, has campaigned during her son's 2008 presidential campaign.