Political views thumb|Beatty in 1981, with Diane Keaton and First Lady Nancy Reagan at a White House screening of Reds Beatty is a longtime supporter of the Democratic Party. In 1972, he was part of the "inner circle" of Senator George McGovern's presidential campaign. He traveled extensively and was instrumental in organizing fundraising. Despite differences in politics, Beatty was also a friend of Republican Senator John McCain, with whom he agreed on the need for campaign finance reform. He was chosen by McCain himself to be one of the pallbearers at the senator's funeral in 2018.
Political views thumb|Beatty in 1981, w,ith Diane Keaton and First Lady Nancy Reagan at a White House screening of Reds Beatty is a longtime supporter of the Democratic Party. In 1972, he was part of the "inner circle" of Senator George McGovern's presidential campaign. He traveled extensively and was instrumental in organizing fundraising. Despite differences in politics, Beatty was also a friend of Republican Senator John McCain, with whom he agreed on the need for campaign finance reform. He was ,chosen by McCain himself to be one of the pallbearers at the senator's funeral in 2018.