In Divorce, McCain Lost Both Reagans

If Nancy Reagan’s endorsement of John McCain seemed a little muted—"Obviously this is the nominee of the party,” was all she would say—it’s probably because she’s still angry at the way McCain's first marriage ended, the LA Times reports. The couples were great friends until McCain divorced his first wife, Carol, whom the Reagans adored, and swiftly married Cindy.

McCain had a license to marry Cindy before his divorce from Carol was official. In his memoirs, McCain says he was already separated from Carol, but his divorce papers say otherwise, and friends say Carol was taken by surprise. McCain has always acknowledged that he acted poorly, however; his memoir says he “deserved” the contempt the Reagans, particularly Nancy, showed him. (More John McCain stories.)