--- title: John McCain's Speech to Naval Academy Graduates: Transcript description: The Arizona Senator also warned against "parties that preach resentful nationalism", in another implied swipe at President Trump. canonical: https://time.com/5003525/john-mccain-naval-academy-speech/ author: Eli Meixler article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-10-31T08:53:23.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-23T18:03:12.542Z article:section: Politics og:title: Read John McCain's Speech to Naval Academy Graduates og:description: "We have to fight isolationism, protectionism, and nativism" og:url: https://time.com/5003525/john-mccain-naval-academy-speech/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt193649094dc404c8/6988e3ec096a9473d46a0373/mccain-naval-academy_wong.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: John McCain og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Read John McCain's Speech to Naval Academy Graduates twitter:description: "We have to fight isolationism, protectionism, and nativism" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt193649094dc404c8/6988e3ec096a9473d46a0373/mccain-naval-academy_wong.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 'It's Time to Wake Up.' Read John McCain's Speech to Naval Academy Graduates by [Eli Meixler](https://time.com/author/eli/) ## Eli Meixler Oct 31, 2017 8:53 AM UTC  Sen. John McCain sits onstage after delivering remarks at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., on Oct. 30, 2017. Sen. John McCain sits onstage after delivering remarks at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., on Oct. 30, 2017.Patrick Semansky—AP by [Eli Meixler](https://time.com/author/eli/) ## Eli Meixler Oct 31, 2017 8:53 AM UTC Republican Sen. [John McCain](http://time.com/tag/john-mccain/) addressed the Brigade of Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy on Oct. 30, thanking recruits for accepting the “sacrifices” of military service and recalling his own military and political career in a speech that was by turns lighthearted and stirring. McCain, 81, who described himself as an “undistinguished member of the Class of 1958” and served in the Navy until 1981, also cited some of the values celebrated at U.S. Naval Academy, including the importance of “sacrificing for something more important than yourself” and a commitment to “do the right thing, thanks or no thanks.” McCain, who has been embroiled in several [public spats](http://time.com/4993304/john-mccain-donald-trump-feud-remarks/) with President Donald Trump, used his speech in Annapolis, Maryland to warn against “parties that preach resentful nationalism rather than enlightened self-interest, nativism rather than equal justice.” Read McCain’s full remarks below: --- > “” --- ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5003525/john-mccain-naval-academy-speech/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5003525/john-mccain-naval-academy-speech/"},"headline":"'It's Time to Wake Up.' 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