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Sen. John McCain on His Hero from 'For Whom the Bell Tolls'

Season 1 Episode 2 | 2m 45s

Published in the fall of 1940 at the end of the Spanish Civil War, Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" follows character Robert Jordan, a young American college instructor, in his fight against fascism. Senator John McCain discusses the profound impact the novel and its hero had on him.

Corporate funding for HEMINGWAY was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by the Annenberg Foundation, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, and by ‘The Better Angels Society,’ and its members John & Leslie McQuown, the Elizabeth Ruth Wallace Living Trust, John & Catherine Debs, The Fullerton Family Charitable Trust, the Kissick Family Foundation, Gail M. Elden, Gilchrist & Amy Berg, Robert & Beverly Grappone, Mauree Jane & Mark Perry; and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS.
Extras
In 1946, Hemingway married Mary Welsh, a Time and Life correspondent he met during WWII.
In the summer of 1953, Ernest and Mary survived two plane crashes while in Africa.
Hemingway writes The Old Man and the Sea but is overcome by mental illness.
Referring to himself as "Papa," Ernest Hemingway strived to be an expert on everything.
After a hurricane killed 259 veterans, Hemingway took aim at the Roosevelt administration.
Ernest Hemingway returned to Spain to report on the Spanish Civil War.
Hemingway and Martha Gellhorn reported alongside each other during the Spanish Civil War.
In 1939, Hemingway returned to Havana, Cuba and bought the Finca Vigía with Martha.
On Sept. 3, 1939, Ernest Hemingway told Pauline he was leaving her for Martha Gellhorn.
Hemingway, having achieved literary fame, goes to report on the Spanish Civil War.
Hemingway writes The Old Man and the Sea but is overcome by mental illness.
Hemingway, having achieved literary fame, goes to report on the Spanish Civil War.
Hemingway moves to Paris and finds success with his second novel, A Farewell to Arms.