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GOP "Maverick" John McCain Dies Aged 81; Pope "Begs the Lord's Forgiveness" Over Abuse Scandal. Aired 7-8a ET

Aired August 26, 2018 - 07:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:00:23] CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: We always appreciate you spending time with us in the mornings here. It's 7:00 right now. I'm Christi Paul.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Martin Savidge, in for Victor Blackwell.

This morning, America is, of course, remembering the loss of a political titan. Arizona Senator John McCain passed away Saturday afternoon. He was at his home near is a Sedona, Arizona. He was surrounded by his family in his final hours.

PAUL: And oh my goodness, the tributes that we're seeing to him, not just in the United States but around the world this morning.

Remember, it was in Hanoi, Vietnam, in October 1967, McCain and ten other pilots were shut down by the North Vietnamese military. He would spend five and a half years as a prisoner of war there. Today, there's a monument to him that stands on the spot where his plane went down. Ands this morning, there are flowers and tributes that surround it.

Then in Washington, the morning is beginning with flags over the White House and U.S. capital lowered to half staff in recognition of Senator McCain's long service to the country that he loved so much.

SAVIDGE: CNN's Dana Bash has a look back now at John McCain's distinguished political career.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): His dramatic Senate return against doctors' orders after being diagnosed with brain cancer.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I've been a member of the United States Senate for 30 years.

BASH: His late night thumbs-down that singlehandedly crushed his party's push to repeal and replace Obamacare.

John McCain's last big moment in the political spotlight captured so many of the complexities of his character, a stubborn man who survived many a brush with death, who spent a lifetime looking for moments to shine as a leader and put country first, yet, forever, a hot dog fighter pilot with dramatic flare and white knuckle political instincts.

John Sidney McCain III was born with a storied legacy of service to live up to. His father and grandfather were both four-star admirals.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: His father and grandfather instilled in him a sense of duty, honor and country.

BASH: Young McCain's passion was literature. He was a voracious reader all his life.

MCCAIN: Hemmingway is always been my favorite author, in many ways, a larger than life figure that I always admired a lot.

BASH: Yet McCain followed the path of larger than life figures in his family, enrolling at the Naval Academy where he stood out for being a trouble-maker, not a future leader.

MCCAIN: I'm the guy that stood fifth from the bottom of his class at the naval academy.

BASH: He became a fighter pilot. His first combat mission during the Vietnam War was aboard the USS Forrestal.

On deck, his plane was accidentally struck by a missile, causing a huge inferno, 134 fellow sailors died.

A few months later, McCain was on a routine bombing mission. His plane was shot down.

MCCAIN: I was gyrating very violently, almost straight down. So I had to eject very quickly. I was knocked unconscious.

BASH: He found himself surrounded by angry villagers, the North Vietnamese forced him to give this interview in exchange for life- saving treatment.

MCCAIN: I am treated well here.

BASH: He was taken as a prisoner of war and tortured.

WILLIAM COHEN, FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: He was beaten on a regular basis, you know, being hung from his arms on a ceiling and sockets pulled out.

BASH: When his father Jack McCain was named commander of U.S. Pacific Forces, the Vietnamese offered John McCain freedom, he refused. It would have broken POW protocol, release and order of capture.

MCCAIN: There was a correlation between my refusal to accept early release and my treatment. The treatment got very much worse.

BASH: Ultimately, they broke McCain, getting him to sign a statement admitting to claims against him, which he regretted the rest of his life.

JOHN WEAVER, POLITICAL CONSULTANT, MCCAIN 2000 & 2008 PRES. CAMPAIGNS: After he signed it, I think he wanted just to die.

BASH (on camera): Because he felt so disloyal?

WEAVER: He felt shame that he had let the country down.

BASH (voice-over): Finally, after nearly five and a half years in prison, McCain was released.

WEAVER: You still see the impact of that today, the way he was tied, you know, with the way the camp raised his arms, his hands. He can't comb his hair. The things that we take for granted.

BASH: His marriage to first wife Carol who waited anxiously for McCain in prison fell apart. Captain McCain became a naval liaison to the U.S. Senate where he caught the political bug. In 1982, he ran for the House from Arizona, home with new wife Cindy, and won.

[07:05:03] Four years later, it was on to the U.S. Senate.

Early on, controversy -- the Keating Five. McCain and four other senators met regulators investigating the failed savings and loan bank of Charles Keating, a McCain contributor.

MCCAIN: I am, of course, relieved that I have been exonerated.

BASH: An investigation cleared McCain of wrongdoing but rebuked him for poor judgment. The episode sent McCain on a crusade to clean up Washington, pushing campaign finance reform, fighting back tobacco, railing against earmarks.

MCCAIN: That's our obligation and our duty to the American people.

BASH: Everything with passion. Humor.

JOE LIEBERMAN, FORMER U.S. SENATOR: He is very direct. He is also very funny. He has a way of sort of picking -- teasing people he likes.

MCCAIN: Thanks for the question, you little jerk.

He was a little jerk.

BASH: And a famous temper.

MCCAIN: To be a complete jerk to his closest friends and hug you dearly next.

BASH: In the fall of 1999, McCain announced his candidacy for president. As an underdog, he got attention by being constantly available to reporters aboard his bus, the Straight Talk Express.

He trapped frontrunner George W. Bush in the New Hampshire primary but then lost South Carolina where it got ugly and personal. McCain soon dropped out and returned to the Senate even more

determined to work across the aisle with Democrats like Ted Kennedy on issues like a patient's bill of rights and immigration reform.

MCCAIN: I announce my candidacy for president of the United States.

BASH: In 2008, his second presidential bid. This time, he was the heir apparent, but McCain support for a surge of troops in Iraq and bipartisanship work on immigration reform hurt him with GOP voters. His poll numbers plunged. He held town halls in New Hampshire and talked border security instead of immigration reform and climbed back.

REPORTER: The fact you're getting a second chance, sir, what does that say to you?

MCCAIN: It means that we are happy at how far we have come.

BASH: After securing the GOP nomination, he had to pick a running mate. A close friend Democrat-turned-independent Joe Lieberman was his first choice.

LIEBERMAN: So I hear.

BASH (on camera): He never told you that?

LIEBERMAN: No, he did.

BASH (voice-over): Aides convinced McCain that Lieberman's support for abortion rights made it impossible. McCain still went bold -- first-term Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. At first, Palin helped McCain draw conservative support he was lacking. But after some bizarre interviews, many campaign aides considered her a liability.

SARAH PALIN (R), FORMER ALASKA GOVERNOR: Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States.

BASH: McCain would never say he regretted choosing Palin.

(on camera): He doesn't talk about it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

BASH: Ever?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And he never will.

BASH (voice-over): The economic collapse in 2008, ultimately sealed McCain's defeat. Still, he worked to stay out of gutter politics, taking the mike from a voter who claimed Barack Obama was Arab.

MCCAIN: No, ma'am.

BASH: And giving a concession speech that marked the historic moment for the country.

MCCAIN: This is an historic election and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans. And for the special pride that must be theirs tonight.

BASH: McCain settled into life as a senior statesman, fulfilled a dream of becoming Senate Armed Services chairman and traveled around the world every chance he got, an informal diplomat and informed senator.

When President Trump was elected, McCain took it upon himself to reassure world leaders, visiting 26 countries and four continents in the first six months of 2017 alone. Even at age 80, McCain liked to travel with and mentor younger senators in both parties, forging close relationships.

GRAHAM: He is loyal to his friends. He loves his country and if he has to stand up to his party for his country, so be it. He would die for this country. I love him to death.

(APPLAUSE)

BASH: His July 2017 brain cancer diagnosis and brain treatment for it forced McCain to slow down but he hated pity.

This is how he always wanted to be remembered, paraphrasing his political hero, Teddy Roosevelt.

MCCAIN: I've had the most wonderful life and career than anybody you will ever meet.

Thank you.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

BASH: Dana Bash, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL: And we should point out, Arizona flags lowered to half-staff. They did so yesterday because he represented the state in Washington, D.C. first in the House of Representatives and then the Senate as you heard there for more than 30 years.

SAVIDGE: Let's go to Stephanie Elam in Sedona, Arizona. She's outside John McCain's ranch.

Good morning, Stephanie.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Martin.

When you take a look at the senator's life, so many of the chapters of his life would be phenomenal and remarkable on their own.

[07:10:02] The fact that five and a half years as a prisoner of war and then to come back and still want to do more for his country, so much so that several times throughout his life he was asked what he would like to be remembered. He was asked about what struck him, and he there was always so much humility with how he expressed -- how he looked back over the canvas of his life. And it's also interesting to note when he was making his first presidential bid he spoke to CNN's Larry King and just take a listen to who he hoped would be impressed by the fact that he showed up on the cover of three magazines at the time. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY KING, FORMER CNN HOST: Monday morning across America, the news magazines came out and this man made the cover of all three of the biggies. He is Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona.

What did you make when you saw the three magazines Monday? First of all, how did you feel?

MCCAIN: Well, I thought that -- I never thought I'd live that long. Obviously, I think it's good. Sounds a little corny, but one of the things I thought of I think this might impress my children.

KING: Really?

MCCAIN: Yes. Because my kids, you know, an old geezer like me, you know, it's hard to get their appreciation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ELAM: He says it with a chuckle there, but you think about a man who skirted death several times and then to have about -- a little while over a year to reflect on what was going to happen next with his life. It's clear that his family has been with him and that they were forever formed and touched by the love that they got from their father. In fact, Meghan McCain coming out with a statement yesterday that is just truly a wonderful tribute to her father and I'm going to read it to you now.

She wrote: My father, United States Senator John Sidney McCain III, departed his life today. I was with my father at his end as he was with me at my beginning. In the 33 years we shared together, he raised me, taught me, corrected me, comforted me, encouraged me and supported me in all things.

He loved me and I loved him. He taught me how to live. His love and his care ever present, always unfailing, took me from a girl to a woman and he showed me what it is to be a man. All that I am is thanks to him.

Now that he is gone, the task of my lifetime is to live up to his example, his expectations and his love. My father's passing comes with sorrow and grief for me, for my sorrow and grief for me, for my mother, for my brothers, and for my sisters. He was a great fire who burned bright and we lived in his light and worth for so very long.

We know his flames lives on in each of us. The days and years to come will not be the same without my dad but they will be good days filled with life and love because of the example he lived for us. Your prayers for his soul and for our family are sincerely appreciated. My father is gone and I miss him as only an adorning daughter can but

in this loss and in this sorrow, I take comfort in this: John McCain, hero of the republic and hero to his little girl, wakes today to something more glorious than anything on this earth. Today the warrior enters his true and eternal life, greeted by those gone before him and rising to meet the Author of All Things. The dream is ended. This is the morning.

Beautiful words from Meghan McCain remembering her father. And that's part of this, is these stories of this man, this leader, this icon in politics. Also at the end of the day, he was also a father and just hearing those touching words from his daughter really just helps it sink in just how much this man will be missed, not just here in Arizona, but also for the McCain family.

PAUL: Yes. When she wrote, I was with my father, his end and he was with me at my beginning, I think I just went, oh my goodness. It is absolutely touching p.m. I'm glad you read the whole thing to us, Stephanie.

Stephanie Elam, thank you so much.

SAVIDGE: Flags are also flying at half-staff in the nation's capital right now honoring the life, of course, of Senator John McCain. We'll go live to Washington for reaction as former colleagues of the senator reflect on his legacy.

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[07:18:29] MCCAIN: I've been called a maverick, someone who -- someone who marches the beat of his own drum.

And the American people know me very well. That is an independent and a maverick of the Senate, and I'm happy to say that I've got partner that's a good maverick along with me now.

I'm a maverick. No one expected us to agree on everything.

A maverick, I can do, but messiah is above my pay grade.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: He was, of course, a hero in war and as you just heard many times, a maverick in the Senate. We remember John McCain today.

The Arizona senator died last night at his home in Arizona from brain cancer.

PAUL: The two-time presidential candidate said, listen, he has no regrets on either run. His pick for vice president, Sarah Palin, she had to say this: Senator John McCain was a maverick and a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs. John never took the easy path in life and through sacrifice and suffering, he inspired others to serve something greater than self. John McCain was my friend. I will remember the good times.

White House reporter Sarah Westwood is following so much of the reaction that we are seeing today.

Sarah, what are you hearing? And good morning.

SARAH WESTWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Good morning, Christi.

And what we're seeing is this outpouring of love and admiration from lawmakers on Capitol Hill and from leaders around the country and around the world. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are expressing respect and admiration for the man they came to know during his decades of service in Congress.

[07:20:05] President Trump paying brief condolences to McCain on Twitter, writing: My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you.

Of course, Trump's relationship with McCain over the past few years has been complicated and at times contentious, and McCain was never afraid to criticize the Trump administration when he thought that administration was pursuing policies that contradicted what he had spent years fighting for. But today is a day to put partisan differences aside and other administration officials are also speaking out in favor of John McCain.

First Lady Melania Trump also wrote on Twitter separately from her husband: Our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathy to the McCain family. Thank you, Senator McCain, for your service to the nation.

Vice President Mike Pence also speaking out, writing: Karen and I send our deepest condolences to Cindy and the entire McCain family on the passing of Senator John McCain. We honor his lifetime of service to this nation in our military and in public life. His family and friends will be in our prayers. God bless John McCain.

Now, former presidents, former political rivals are also honoring the man they have known for years, praising his military service, praising his willingness to set aside politics when he felt it necessary to get something done.

Former President Barack Obama, McCain's rival in 2008, writing: Few of us have been tested the way John once was or required to show the kind of courage that he did, but all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own.

The Clintons weighing in. Hillary Clinton, obviously, knew Senator McCain when she herself was senator and worked with him when she was secretary of state in the Obama administration, the Clintons saying he frequently put partisanship aside to do what he thought was best for the country and was never afraid to break the mold that was the right thing to do.

And former President George W. Bush, also a onetime rival of McCain when they ran against each other in the 2000 GOP primary, said this about a man who became his friend. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order. He was the public servant in the finest traditions of our country, and to me, he was a friend whom I'll deeply miss.

Now, we're learning that McCain had made plans for his funeral. He had requested eulogies from Bush and Obama but requested that Trump not attend. What we are seeing is an entire nation mourning the loss of a political giant and an American hero, Martin and Christi.

PAUL: All right. Sarah Westwood, we appreciate it. Thank you.

SAVIDGE: CNN has just learned that Senator John McCain will lie in state in the U.S. capital this week. This is coming from a Republican source with knowledge of the plans. We also know that a service will be held at the national cathedral and that there will be a private service in Annapolis.

PAUL: CNN senior Washington correspondent Joe Johns is with us now.

Joe, I have to believe that you are hearing from an awful lot of people who really want to share their thoughts on John McCain today.

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: That's true. And here in Washington, a lot of people have known now for quite a while this day would come and while there is not shock, there is certainly a lot of sadness for people in Washington who knew Senator McCain over the years as I did. It's really difficult to sum him up or do him justice even in our wall-to-wall coverage, the 24-hour news cycle, or a public statement. God forbid, a tweet, only so much you can do because he had so many different lives over 81 years.

There is the traditional lowering of flags here and around the country which means more in connection with Senator McCain because of his military service, his years in the Hanoi Hilton. So, the flag symbolism does help to define him, that code of honor I think runs in a straight line from Vietnam and how he handled being a celebrated POW to Capitol Hill. Even to the campaign trail since a duty to the country that was unerring.

We all saw it, which is why the Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer suggested that the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill, been there for years and years, named after a Democrat, by the way, should be named after the Republican, Senator McCain.

Now this was a man who wasn't perfect. He had a temper that was almost the stuff of legend but he also had a great sense of comic timing that brought him a lot of friends, including Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut. These two men were so close that in 2008 when McCain was the nominee for the Republican Party, he gave serious consideration to naming Lieberman his running mate even though Lieberman was not a Republican.

Now, Lieberman came out with a statement and it said, in part, although it was clear that John McCain's life was ending, his death hurts.

[08:25:06] America has lost one of the greatest patriots in and public servants in our history and I've lost a dear friend. He went on to say he is lucky to know him and work with him, comfort by the great memories of their times together. So, Washington, D.C. is reeling over this and it is good to know that the senator will be lying in repose at the capital.

SAVIDGE: There is pain.

Joe Johns, thank you so much for that.

PAUL: I mean, he is going always be remembered as a political maverick, of course. As he said, he spoke his mind. He never hesitated to reach across the aisle.

A political strategist has some thoughts as to how McCain inspired his political career. We are going to talk to him. Stay close.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MCCAIN: Politics is a bean bag. It's a tough business. It was a tough race. It was a tough campaign and I enjoyed enormously feeling sorry for myself for about two weeks.

You know, feeling sorry for yourself is a lot of fun, but then he put it behind me and I moved on. You've got to -- the people of Arizona don't expect me to hold a grudge for something that happened four or five years ago, and I don't hold a grudge and I move forward and I admire this president and I want to help him. And we have a very big agenda for this country and I want to assist him in carrying out that agenda.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[07:31:18] SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I've had the good fortune to spend 60 years in service for this wondrous land. It's not been perfect service to be sure and there were probably times when the country might have been benefited a little less of my help. But I tried to deserve the privilege as best I can and I've been repaid a thousand times over with adventures, with good company, with the satisfaction of serving something more important than myself, of being a bit player in the extraordinary story of America, and I am so grateful.

What a privilege it is to serve this big, boisterous, brawling, intemperate, striving, daring, beautiful, bountiful and brave, magnificent country. With all of our flaws, all our mistakes, with all of the frailty of human nature as much on display as or virtues, with all the rancor and anger of our politics, we are blessed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: You can hear just how much he means every word he says as he talks there about -- MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: You know he does.

PAUL: -- honored he was, you know, to serve this country.

He died yesterday at the age of 81, you know from an aggressive form of brain cancer he had been fighting. We just learned that he will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol this week, and then there will be a service at the National Cathedral.

SAVIDGE: The Arizona senator was renowned, of course, to trying to unite both sides of the aisle. And if you look on social media today, you'll see people from the left and right and in between all sending their condolences to the McCain family.

PAUL: Nathan Sproul, executive director for the Arizona Republican Party from 1999 to 2002 and Republican strategist is with us now.

SAVIDGE: Nathan, thanks for joining us this morning.

And, you know, everyone knows Senator McCain, knows of him, but how did it all begin? His political career, sometimes we forget that he first got elected in your home district, right?

NATHAN SPROUL, FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ARIZONA REPUBLICAN PARTY: He did. I think one of the things that is often forgotten, especially on a day like this when we think of all the big accomplishments and the legacy of Senator McCain, is how close that first election for him really was.

It was 1982. It was my district where I grew up. I was 9 or 10 and I remember listening to my parents sprain why they made the decision to vote for John McCain and it was really his story, his life story, not just a POW but already a life and service even at that point. But by moving into Arizona when he did he got into the race late and other three well accomplished, well-known candidates and he won the race by less than 6 percent.

I looked it up yesterday, 2,800, 2,900 votes -- think how different American history and world history would be if those votes had been just a little bit different.

PAUL: Oh my gosh. That is something to think about.

I know that you said that he -- you saw him in D.C. on a senior class trip and he was the only one of your delegation that came out and talked to you.

What did he say? What did he do that stayed with you?

SPROUL: The thing about John McCain that I think people -- all of the things that have been said while I'm waiting to come on the show with you are so true. He's uniting the country right and left. He has a legacy that really is international on the world stage for sure.

But one of the things I think people really miss is just his work ethic and the fact that no matter who he was or where he was, he was always willing to talk to whoever the person was that wanted to engage him in that conversation. And when we went back for our senior class trip, he spent almost a half hour with us. His staff just showed us around. He spent time talking to each one of us. He talked to the faculty members who were.

He was the United States senator in 1990 who already at that point was moving rapidly up the national stage and began to be noticed, and yet he still spent almost half an hour with a group of high school seniors.

[07:35:09] I think that speaks of who he was as a person whose work ethic of making sure that his constituents knew that he cared about each one of them.

SAVIDGE: Yes, absolutely. I mean, I'm not surprised actually to hear you say that. It fits with every image I have of him.

Tell us about the 2000 presidential race, because that was the time when the Arizona governor endorsed Bush over McCain. What was going on?

SPROUL: Yes, it was awkward. So, Jane Hall had endorsed George W. Bush. My boss at the time was good friends with Jane Hall and good friends with John McCain as well, but it created a very awkward situation within the rank and file of the party as to how to handle that type of a situation.

So there was actually one of the funnier stories was we decided assess the stated party we were going to do a debate. And our debate was being scheduled before the first debate in New Hampshire so there was all sorts of back and forth between Bush and McCain as to whether or not they even were going to attend our debate. Ultimately, then Governor Bush and eventually President Bush decided he wasn't going to come to the first debate. Your network really bailed us out because you helped us schedule a second debate so that we were able to get the first debate on the TV that Senator McCain came to.

But by the time we did the second debate, ten days later, Senator McCain said he was going to bridge the New Hampshire voters how important they were to him, so he literally put a television at the podium for the second debate where Senator McCain was supposed to be in and Governor Bush came to that debate, but represented in person was a television sell with John McCain on it while he was in New Hampshire letting the New Hampshire voters know and apparently they appreciated it because as we know they did vote for him overwhelmingly in that primary.

SAVIDGE: Yes, they did.

PAUL: All right. Well, thank you so much. We appreciate you being with us, Nathan, sharing those memories and giving us a little insight into something that, you know, an avenue we didn't know about before.

SAVIDGE: Thank you, Nathan.

SPROUL: Thank you. It was an honor. PAUL: Thank you.

We have more on the incredible life and legacy and leadership of Senator John McCain in a moment.

We do want to take you to Ireland as well. The pope is addressing decades of sexual abuse allegations, now saying the victims were, quote, left scarred by their abusers.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:41:49] PAUL: The man you see there is having quite an impact, not just here in the United States, but around the world, as people learn of his death. The passing, of course, of Senator John McCain.

He was known as a war hero. He was known as a foreign policy hawk. He has gained respect from so many people and we are hearing from them today.

SAVIDGE: We are. He flew combat assignments during the Vietnam War and he was shot down and he spent more than five terrible years in a Hanoi prisoner of war camp.

Joining us now, CNN international diplomatic editor, Nic Robertson.

And, Nic, what are leaders from around the world saying?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNTIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, it's interesting, Martin. I mean, some of the things that we are hearing today and the tributes have been coming in thick and fast speaking about on his honor, speaking about his dignity, speaking about what he had done for their countries, strong advocate for Afghanistan.

We have heard from the Afghan president saying that he was a friend of the Afghan people. We've heard from Kosovo leaders, the prime minister and the president there, both of who their cause Senator McCain supported. We have heard from the Latvians, the Lithuanians, the Estonians, so many different countries.

But I think one of the interesting themes that seems to emerge is what amounts to a reflection of Senator McCain's, if you will, repudiation of some of president Trump's recent positions. And that is kind of reflected in what we are hearing.

Now, listen to this, from the British Prime Minister Theresa May. You can hear this sort of thinly veiled criticism of President Trump underwritten in what she says here.

John McCain was a great statesman who embodied the idea of service over self. It was an honor to call him a friend of the U.K., deepest sympathies go to his family and to the American people.

And from the German foreign minister, again, this very clear reference to what President Trump continues to call Germany out about, its payments toward NATO, the transatlantic alliance. Again listen to this, again, thinly veiled criticism it seems that President Trump and his tribute to Senator McCain.

John McCain was a convinced advocate of a strong and reliable transatlantic partnership, especially on difficult times. He believed in our shared values and principles. We will always remember his voice.

The prime minister of Kosovo, again a country or rather a province that Senator McCain supported at a troubled time. A privilege to have known a decent man named John McCain. The people of Kosovo remained close to Senator McCain's family and the American people as we mourn his death.

Also hearing from the new Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Australia, saying, Senator McCain was a true friend of Australia who was committed to strengthening the alliance between our two nations. He goes on to say, he was a man of great courage and conviction. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Cindy and all the McCain family during this time. And in Prime Minister Morrison's words, we can reflect there for a moment on the testy relationship that President Trump has had with his predecessor Malcolm Turnbull.

So, I think here is a reflection what we are hearing from world leaders, that reflects for a positively on Senator McCain and perhaps less so on President Trump.

PAUL: Somebody that we ask you about often is Vladimir Putin and we know that McCain was a fierce critic of his.

[07:45:06] Have we heard anything from him today?

ROBERTSON: We have yet to get anything that I've seen at least yet, from Vladimir Putin. I think one can expect something at some point, but you wouldn't anticipate that the Russian leader would be rushing out to add words to those that have been so high in their tribute and praise of Senator McCain at this time.

SAVIDGE: Nic Robertson, as always, we appreciate the insights and the words that are coming from foreign leaders. Thank you for sharing them with us.

PAUL: Thank you.

So, the pope is begging the Lord's forgiveness. This is from him. We will tell you what is going on there in Dublin right now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:50:03] PAUL: Good morning. We're so glad you're with us here.

We have a developing story tell you about out of Afghanistan right now. CNN has learned the head of ISIS in Afghanistan was killed in an overnight air strike along with 10 other ISIS fighters. Now, the air strike was carried out we know by Afghan and coalition forces.

SAVIDGE: Eight people died overnight in Chicago after a fire broke out in an apartment building. Six of those killed were children, that according to the Chicago Fire Department. Two of the children and at least one firefighter were hurt as well. It is still unclear what caused that fire. The Fire Department says there were no smoke detectors found in that home.

PAUL: Well, the pope says he's begging for the Lord's forgiveness as he reflects on the victims of sexual abuse. This is as he's in Ireland for a visit there.

SAVIDGE: The pope made those comments just a short time ago in Dublin as he continues to address the abuse scandals that have plagued the church.

CNN international correspondent Phil Black is live in Dublin for us today -- Phil.

PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Martin, Christi, good morning.

As the pope has been to a place of holy pilgrimage for many Catholics this morning, a shrine in Knock in County Mayo that marks the location of an apparition of Mary, the mother of Christ. And here he prayed for the victims of sexual abuse and other cruelties within the church and he says he begged the Lord for forgiveness and he talked about these sins as being an open wound.

And he's right, they are, that's how many in this country feel. Victims of sexual abuse, Catholics themselves still practicing and loyal to the church and many people across Ireland to have turned their back on the pope and the church as well. What they want to hear from him is not more apologies, it is not begging for forgiveness. It is in their words concrete actions and policies that will prevent more children from being abused and will ensure that those who have abused and those who protected abusers will be held accountable publicly, transparently and punished in some way.

So far, they all say what they heard from the pope on this visit does not meet that expectation. Later today, in a short time in fact, he will be appearing here in Phoenix Park in Dublin, saying mass with hundreds of thousands of people, all of them listening very intently to his homily, his sermon in the hope that here, finally, just before he leaves Ireland, he will say something truly meaningful and substantial that advances this issue and shows that he and the church are going to deal with it in a very meaningful, serious way in the near future.

Martin and Christi, back to you.

PAUL: Phil, is there any indication what will happen if he does not do that?

BLACK: Well, you can only imagine, Christi, there will be enormous disappointment. Many have said they will simply judge his visit here to have been a failure, to have been pointless if you like. Some may hold some hope that he will have treated this visit as something of a research mission by coming here meeting members of the church specifically spending time with victims of abuse. And it may inspire him to go back to Rome, back to the Vatican and there move forward and do something more substantial because the nature of the church as the people here know, is that any sort of -- any sort of attempt to change a reform, well it moves very, very slowly.

But there is no doubt that the numbers of people we're seeing here for example today, although hundreds of thousands will be much lower than the huge crowds, million plus that came to see John Paul II back in 1979, what it means is that the pope doesn't deal with the issue, the erosion of faith in the church will only continue here in Ireland.

PAUL: All right, Phil Black in Dublin for us, thank you, Phil, so much.

And, of course, we are really focused on John McCain and his family today. This man, you know, difficult, to serious, victorious, comical -- I mean, he ran the gamut, Senator John McCain.

What a legacy he is leaving and we're thinking of his family today.

SAVIDGE: And we want to leave you with a look at some memorable movements from the maverick.

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ANNOUNCER: After more than 30 years in the Senate, Senator John McCain has died.

He was a politician unlike any other.

REPORTER: To lead Health and Human Services Department.

ANNOUNCER: Things John McCain did that most politicians don't.

He was willing to go against his own party on health care -- twice.

MCCAIN: Comment on Mr. Trump's comments, I have not and will not.

ANNOUNCER: He was almost always willing to talk to reporters even if he had "no comment".

REPORTER: Why not, he's the president-elect and you're a senior member up here?

MCCAIN: Because that's my choice.

ANNOUNCER: He would stick up for a Democratic opponent.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can't trust Obama. He's an Arab. He's not --

MCCAIN: No, ma'am, no ma'am. He's a decent family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and that's what this campaign is all about. He's not. Thank you.

ANNOUNCER: He was willing to take a big gamble, like a relatively unknown vice presidential choice.

MCCAIN: I'm very pleased and very privileged to introduce to you Sarah Palin of the great state of Alaska.

ANNOUNCER: He wouldn't be interrupted.

MCCAIN: You know, you're going to have to shut up or I'm going to have you arrested. If we can't get the Capitol Hill police in here immediately -- get out of here you low life scum.

ANNOUNCER: And he never held back.

MCCAIN: You know how people call me the maverick?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah.

ANNOUNCER: No matter what, he was never afraid to poke fun at himself.

MCCAIN: Well, I thought I might try a strategy called the reverse maverick. That's where I do whatever anybody tells me. I don't ask questions, I just go with the flow. If that doesn't work, I go to the double maverick. That's where I go totally berserk or just freak everybody out.

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