What John McCain learned from Ted Kennedy, and the brutal twist of their shared bond

John McCain Diagnosed With Brain Cancer

Arizona Republican John McCain and Ted Kennedy, the Democrat from Massachusetts, were masters of bipartisanship in the Senate. By joining forces, the two could overwhelm any opposition.

"Ted and I shared the sentiment that a fight not joined was a fight not enjoyed," McCain said in his eulogy of Kennedy after his friend died from a form of brain cancer known as glioblastoma.

The two senators had a lot in common, and now they have one more thing. McCain was diagnosed last week with the same brain cancer that killed his friend.

Read more about how McCain and Kennedy's bond came to be, how they maintained their friendship during the 2008 election, and what the Republican learned from the Democrat about battling opposition within his own party.

Sen. Ted Kennedy  with then-presidential candidate John McCain (R-Ariz.) in Washington in 2006.

Credit: Jamie Rose

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Credit: Jamie Rose

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