McCain became chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in 1995 , and would hold that position into 1997 . McCain 's visibility was increased by the 1995 publication of Robert Timberg 's well-received '' The Nightingale 's Song '' , a joint biography of five graduates from the Naval Academy who had served in Vietnam and whose subsequent public fame and problems illuminated the role of Vietnam and the military in American life . At the start of the 1996 presidential election , McCain served as national campaign chairman for the highly unsuccessful Republican nomination effort of Texas Senator Phil Gramm . After Gramm dropped out , McCain endorsed eventual nominee Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole , and was again on the short list of possible vice-presidential picks . McCain formed a close bond with Dole , based in part on their shared near-death war experiences ; he nominated Dole at the 1996 Republican National Convention and was a key friend and advisor to Dole throughout his ultimately losing general election campaign
1996 Republican National Convention
1996 Republican National Convention
House and Senate career of John McCain, until 2000