How Cindy Hensley Invented John McCain

TNR:

On Saturday, May 17, 1980, Cindy Lou Hensley married Navy Captain John McCain at the First United Methodist Church on Central Avenue in Phoenix, not far from the bride's childhood home. After the ceremony, the wedding entourage headed nearly three miles east to the Arizona Biltmore resort, a sprawling gray oasis designed by a Frank Lloyd Wright protégé in the 1920s. Guests fêted the couple in the resort's Aztec Room, an elegant, twelve-sided banquet hall with a vaulted, gold-leaf ceiling. The 25-year-old bride seemed impervious to the desert heat. She had flawless skin and wore a long-sleeved gown with a veil that extended to the floor.

...

As Cindy McCain faithfully shadows her husband in his quest for the presidency, it's hard to imagine that she was once the senior member of their partnership. Looking back, McCain's steady march from admiral's son to war hero to White House contender seems almost preordained--certainly unrelated to the brittle blond cipher at his side. Cindy brings to mind the political wives of yore--a perpetually demure and deferential presence. All the more so in an age of Elizabeth Edwards and Michelle Obama.

But the reality behind this political creation myth is far more complex. McCain was a relative nobody when he married Cindy Hensley--a middle-aged divorcé working a mid-level job in a far-off bureaucracy. It was the Hensleys who would breathe life into his prospects and provide a springboard for his ascent. Their ambitions burned every bit as brightly as his did. Except that, unlike McCain, they'd long since hidden their motives from public view.

Read the whole story: TNR

Comments

[Okieborn]

John Mccain has a temper from "HELL" and used on anyone that doesn't agree with his philosophy !!
Cindy Mccain acts so beat down maybe she has suffered some of the wrath of his temper !!!

[taniacaa]

AMBITION ON STEROIDS....JOHN (MCCAIN) HENSLEY

[ignrnthllblly]

Ice, ice, Barbie?

[alphax]

Lady Mc(Beth)Cain

So John McCain what attracted you to the heiress, blonde haired, half your age Cindy Lou Hensley?

[Davwbaird]

ex-con?

[YunekFlava]

This article reads like a riveting treatment for a movie of the week. And, who was it that said the more money you have, the happier you are? These people led and lead a complicated life. Is this what lots of money will do for you, or what you will do for lots of money?? Wait, this sounds like everyone else's family, except everyone else's family doesn't have lots and lots of money.

[isis]

Jill Biden looks a bit like Cindy but more natural and relaxed. She is Joe's second wife but his first wife and a child were killed in a car accident.

[OhComeOnNow]

But who is worse as First Lady, Cindy or Michelle? They ARE BOTH not a good choice...

[S1m0n]

Michelle Obama would make a wonderful first lady.

[YunekFlava]

oh come on now

[Davwbaird]

ex-con's daughter

[azobama]

Talk about sanitized.

They don't even hint the well know fact among locals that Cindy lived in terror of John. The story about how Mother Teresa asked her to adopt Bridget and that she introduced John to his "new daughter" at the airport is complete fabricated nonsense. Cindy brought two children to Phoenix for medical treatment and decided to adopt Bridget. She told other ladies (one of whom I know well) at a social function that she wanted to adopt the baby but was scared stiff of what John would say but eventually got up the courage to stand up to him.

They also skip the common knowledge here in Phoenix that the McCains effectively have an open marriage. She has a boyfriend here and he has multiple mistresses in DC. I guess that would be too hot event for TNR.

[YunekFlava]

What?????????? I can hear the warning sirens and see the flashing lights going off in my head after reading the article, but you say there's more? I've got to go take my "Can you believe this" medication but I will return after my "I can't take much more of this" nap.

[JScott]

She's in the mold (mould?) of Nancy Reagan.....now make sure he's not prez, cause after he leaves office (or passes hey he is old) look for CMcC to get everything named after him, just like Nancy.
Hmm the kids are kinda dysfunctional like RR's too. I dunno doesn't bode well.

[jsinclair]

What a funny thing to focus on, that McCain was a "middle aged divorce" when he MARRIED Cindy. Sounds so dull and plodding.

Quite different from the reality--that he was a recently returned Naval captain (hailed as a war hero) who, finding his middle-aged wife had been injured in a car accident while he was gone, hooked up with a beautiful and rich 25 year old heiress, whom he subsequently left his wife for and married.

McCain was NOT some plodding lonely divorce when he married Cindy. He was a player, an adulterer, and quite a selfish and self-centered man.

The media whitewash continues.....

[PurplePhase]

The New Republic article on the McCains is interesting but it hasn't changed my mind on McCain. He isn't suitable for the White House.

[YunekFlava]

The New Republic article changed my mind on John McCain. I was feeling these people were so elitest, so self absorbed, society-climbers that embellished and orchestrated every part of their lives. I really feel sorry for this waman. She wrapped herself in such a facade, that now the lies seem true and the truth seems like lies.

John was a "maverick". Translation: womanizer, domestic abuser, chauvenist, gambler. ambitious twit, and all around "don't you know who I am" kind of guy.

He definitely isn't suitable for the White House.

[YunekFlava]

I forgot, boozer.

[Davwbaird]

His wife is not suited to the White House is well. Her father was an ex=con

[vallon]

And we all know how Johnny paid her back for her $$ and class transplant: "...At least I don't plaster on the make up......."
What a great guy.

[Saxton]

First you have to wonder how he began to dominate her in the marriage and how her father felt seeing his princess not happy. Second, how long was it into the marriage that he started having affairs again? Third, her supposed "injured" arm I don't buy it, I wouldn't be surprised if it's just not a front for her to get more pills. Afterall, half the time she looks like she is not really present but going through the motions. Sorry but McCain comes off as someone who is verbally, emotionally and maybe even physcially abusive to his spouse.

Pathetic.

[TroubleNYC]

Let's not forget that before they met he spent 5 1/2 years in a house -- in prison.

[cynskeptirealist]

Is she a Stepford Wife or what...geezuz. She freaks me out!

[PurplePhase]

I don't think she is a Stepford Wife. On the contrary she helped drive part of their life. Her qualifications as the First Lady are higher than McCain's presidential qualifications.