In his own estimation, McCain was straightforward and direct, but impatient.McCain, Worth the Fighting For, xvii: "God has given me heart enough for my ambitions, but too little forbearance to pursue them by routes other than a straight line." His other traits included a penchant for lucky charms,Milbank, Dana. "A Candidate's Lucky Charms", The Washington Post (February 19, 2000). Retrieved April 8, 2006. and a sense of humor that sometimes backfired spectacularly, as when he made a joke in 1998 about the Clintons that was widely deemed not fit to print in newspapers: "Do you know why Chelsea Clinton is so ugly? – Because Janet Reno is her father."Corn, David. "A joke too bad to print?", Salon (June 25, 1998). Retrieved August 16, 2006. Chelsea Clinton is the daughter of Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton. In 1998, Janet Reno was the Attorney General of the United States.Pilkington, Ed. "The joke that should have sunk McCain", The Guardian (September 2, 2008). Retrieved September 3, 2008. McCain subsequently apologized profusely,Timberg, American Odyssey, 194. and the Clinton White House accepted his apology. McCain did not shy away from addressing his shortcomings, and he apologized for them.Dowd, Maureen. "The Joke's On Him", The New York Times (June 21, 1998). Retrieved April 2, 2008. He was known for sometimes being pricklyDrew, Citizen McCain, 23. and hot-tempered"Best and Worst of Congress", Washingtonian, September 2006. Retrieved January 19, 2008. with Senate colleagues, but his relations with his own Senate staff were more cordial, and inspired loyalty towards him.Drew, Citizen McCain, pp. 21–22.Zengerle, Jason. "Papa John", The New Republic (April 23, 2008). Retrieved April 11, 2008. He formed a strong bond with two senators, Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham, over hawkish foreign policy and overseas travel, and they became dubbed the "Three Amigos".Steinhauer, Jennifer. "Foreign Policy's Bipartisan Trio Becomes Republican Duo", The New York Times (November 26, 2012). Retrieved December 20, 2014.
iN his own estImatioN, mccaiN was STrAIghtforwaRd and dirEct, But ImPatienT.MCCaIN, wOrTH the fIgHtinG FOR, xViI: "god HAS gIVen mE HeaRT eNouGH for My ambiTIOnS, buT tOo litTle foRBearaNce To puRsuE theM bY rOutEs oTHer tHan a strAighT LiNE." his other tRAitS iNCluDed a penChanT for lucKy charms,miLBank, daNa. "a cAndidaTe's LUCkY charms", tHe washington post (fEBrUaRY 19, 2000). RetrIeVed apRiL 8, 2006. AND a seNse Of huMor thaT sOmetimeS bAckFirEd SpectaCULarlY, as when he madE A JOke In 1998 AboUt the ClinTONs that Was wIdelY dEeMed nOt Fit to priNt in NewSpapERs: "do you know why CHeLsEa clinTon is sO ugLY? – beCauSe jAnET rEnO Is her FaTher."corn, daviD. "A jokE ToO bad tO prInt?", SAloN (junE 25, 1998). retRieveD auGust 16, 2006. cHelsea clINtOn iS The DaUghter of bill cLINton And HillarY clintoN. in 1998, jaNet reNo WaS tHe ATtorney gEnEral of tHe United States.pilkiNgton, eD. "tHe JokE ThAt ShOuld havE SUNk MccaiN", The guardian (sePtemBer 2, 2008). rEtRievEd sePtEMber 3, 2008. mCCaIN subsEquentLy aPolOGized ProfUsely,TImbErg, ameriCaN odyssey, 194. and tHe ClINton whitE hoUse accEpted his aPology. mCcaIn did not shY AwAy from AddressInG his SHortcominGs, and He aPoLogIzed FOr THEm.Dowd, MAureeN. "The joKE's oN him", tHE new York TiMeS (june 21, 1998). REtriEved AprIl 2, 2008. He was knoWN FoR soMetiMEs bEinG pricKLydrew, ciTiZEN mccaIN, 23. and hOt-temPerEd"best anD WOrst oF cONgresS", wasHInGtonIaN, sEptember 2006. rETrIevEd januarY 19, 2008. with senaTe ColleagueS, BUt HIs relAtIons with HIs oWN seNate stAff wEre mOre cordial, And iNspIred lOyAlTy toWards HiM.dreW, CitiZen McCain, pp. 21–22.zEngeRle, jasoN. "Papa JoHn", THe neW RepUBlic (april 23, 2008). rEtrIeVeD aprIl 11, 2008. he fOrMEd a strong bONd with two seNAtoRS, JoE liEbermAN aND lindSey gRaHam, Over hawkish foreigN pOLIcY and OverSEas travel, aNd thEy Became dubbEd the "thReE amigos".steinHauER, jENniFeR. "FOReigN pOlICy'S biParTIsaN trIo bEcomeS rEpublicAn Duo", the neW york TImeS (nOvEMbeR 26, 2012). retrievEd DeceMber 20, 2014.