McCain’s olive branch to Letterman
Should McCain be apologizing to the late-night comedian, or vice versa?
“John McCain tried to make amends with David Letterman on Thursday,” said Matea Gold and Maeve Reston in the Los Angeles Times, telling the late-night comedian that he “screwed up” (click here for the CBS video, via YouTube) by canceling a Sept. 24 appearance at the last minute to rush back to Washington. McCain didn’t leave New York until the next day, and Letterman has sharply “mocked” him ever since. The feud strained their “long-amiable relationship,” but it was great for ratings.
Sure, McCain “treasures the image of himself as a fun guy,” but I don’t know why he put up with this abuse, said Dorothy Rabinowitz in The Wall Street Journal. What, really, was his “primal sin”? Ditching the show to focus on the cresting fiscal “events of national consequence, all of them grim”? Letterman’s not funny, he’s egotistical.
He’s also a skillful interviewer, said T. Christopher Kelly in TalkLeft. Letterman’s “blistering cross-examination” got McCain to discuss his ties to Watergate burglar G. Gordon Liddy—which defanged the Bill Ayers “nonsense.” It was a good skewering, but “aren’t these the kinds of questions that journalists should be asking?”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
5 tax deductions to know if you are self-employed
The explainer You may be able to claim home office, health insurance and other tax deductions
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
5 trips where the journey is the best part
The Week Recommends Slow down and enjoy the ride
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: February 19, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published