Cindy McCain

Cindy McCain is an American businesswoman, philanthropist, and humanitarian advocate. She is the widow of the late United States Senator and 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain. For decades, she has led the family Anheuser-Busch beer distribution business and gained international recognition for her work on global humanitarian issues, including human trafficking prevention and disaster relief.

Early life and education

Cindy Lou Hensley was born in Phoenix, Arizona, the only child of Jim and Marguerite "Smitty" Hensley. Her father, Jim Hensley, was a highly successful businessman who founded Hensley & Co., which became one of the largest Anheuser-Busch distributorships in the United States. She attended Central High School in Phoenix. For her higher education, she attended the University of Southern California, where she earned both a Bachelor of Arts in education and a Master of Arts in special education. Her academic background initially pointed toward a career working with children with disabilities.

Business career

Following the death of her father in 2000, she assumed the role of chair of Hensley & Co., overseeing the major Anheuser-Busch distribution operation based in Phoenix, Arizona. Under her leadership, the company expanded significantly and has been consistently ranked among the top private companies in Arizona by publications like the Phoenix Business Journal. Her business acumen has been recognized by various organizations, and she has served on the board of directors for several entities, including the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Her management of the family enterprise provided a substantial financial foundation that supported both her philanthropic endeavors and the political campaigns of John McCain.

Philanthropy and advocacy

Her philanthropic work is extensive and globally focused. She has served as the chair of the Hensley Family Foundation. She is a longtime board member and former chair of the American Voluntary Medical Team, organizing trips to provide surgical care in developing countries like Vietnam and Morocco. Following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, she personally funded and coordinated airlifts of emergency supplies to affected regions. A leading advocate in the fight against human trafficking, she co-chaired the Arizona Governor's Council on Human Trafficking and has worked with organizations such as the International Rescue Committee and the International Labour Organization. In 2021, President Joe Biden appointed her to serve as the U.S. Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome.

Political involvement

While largely avoiding the political spotlight early in her marriage, she became a key figure in the presidential campaigns of John McCain, particularly during his 2000 and 2008 bids for the Republican nomination. She delivered a well-received speech at the 2008 Republican National Convention in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Following her husband's death, her own political profile increased. She broke with many in her party to endorse Joe Biden in the 2020 United States presidential election, citing his character and commitment to national unity. In 2021, the Biden administration appointed her as an ambassador, and she has been mentioned as a potential candidate for federal office in Arizona.

Personal life

She met John McCain in 1979 at a military reception in Honolulu, Hawaii, while he was still married to his first wife, Carol Shepp. They married in a ceremony in Phoenix, Arizona in 1980. The couple had four children together: Meghan McCain, John Sidney "Jack" IV, James "Jimmy", and Bridget (adopted from Bangladesh). The family maintained homes in Phoenix, Arizona and Cornville, Arizona. Her life has not been without personal challenges, including a period of addiction to prescription painkillers in the early 1990s, which she publicly acknowledged. She was widowed upon the death of John McCain from glioblastoma in 2018. She remains active in Arizona civic life and global humanitarian circles.

Category:American businesspeople Category:American philanthropists Category:McCain family Category:1954 births Category:Living people