McCain Talks Temper at High School Alma Mater

Tue, April 01, 2008 - 2:31 PM

Alluding to early appearances of his now-infamous temper, Sen. John McCain talked about his old days at Episcopal High School, where he graduated in 1954.

McCain recalled today the hazing suffered by all freshmen, known as ‘rats' at the Alexandria, Va. school.

“I made my resentment clear in my usual immature ways to upperclassmen and school officials, piling up demerits and earning the distinction at the end of the year of ‘worst rat,’” said McCain, who graduated in 1954 from the then-segregated boarding school.

“If my detractors had known me here … they might marvel at the self-restraint and mellowness I developed as an adult,” he said.

Former classmate Edward “Boopa” Pritchard, Jr. joined McCain at the forum and said the same relentlessness McCain showed in high school is now seen on the campaign trail.

“He was tough” Pritchard said. “When he got out on a wrestling mat, he didn’t want to lose, and as a result he very seldom did.”

-Neil H. Simon