In death, John McCain received the honors reserved for a president, departed from the public eye a generation ago or more. McCain never left the arena, before the often tacky bloodsport of American politics paused to observe the passage of his hearse.

It must have been jarring to watch, for Americans who have spent years disliking him for one reason or another. His most “maverick” stances brought him a reputation as a “warmonger” among liberals and the enmity of social conservatives. But the Arizona Republican was wiser in his most controversial moments than people cared to admit. More importantly, McCain was one of the few federally elected officials to respect the office that he held — with its power and responsibility — and, also, to respect himself enough to believe that he could perform those duties, even when it was difficult.