Updated May 29, 2018

The most memorable McCain quotes in his HBO documentary

Michael Sykes

John McCain speaking — John McCain being presented with a medal. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Senator John McCain has been one of the most influential political voices for decades. The Arizona senator partnered with HBO to give that voice a new platform in an illuminating profile about McCain's political life through the new documentary "For Whom the Bell Tolls."

The bottom line: As McCain continues to fight brain cancer, this documentary shows us his triumphs and mistakes as a senator as well as a glimpse into his thinking while living with his diagnosis.

McCain talked about his cancer diagnosis in the documentary and wanting to know how long he has to live.

"These doctors keep talking to me about people, if you tell them the truth, then they give up and die...I keep saying to them, just tell me. Just tell me. That's all I want to know."

"I talk to other doctor friends of mine and they say that's not what most people want to hear. Why wouldn't they want to hear? Why wouldn't they want to spend a few more days here."

He tells the story of when he was captured and held as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

"A missile took the wing off the airplane. The army came and took me to the prison camp. And one of the interrogators, he said 'things will be very bad for you now, McCain.'"

McCain talks about doing what he believes is right in government and the state of the government today giving a slight rebuke of how things are being run currently, without mentioning President Trump by name.

"We need to give the American people what they deserve. And right now, they're not getting it."

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The most memorable McCain quotes in his HBO documentary

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