Carol McCain

Carol McCain (née Shepp) is an American former model, political aide, and event coordinator born on February 19, 1938, in Pennsylvania. Standing 5 feet 8 inches tall, she first gained public attention in the 1950s and 1960s as a swimwear and runway model in Philadelphia. She later transitioned into public administration and political campaign work, eventually serving as the Director of the White House Visitors Office during the administration of President Ronald Reagan. She is also widely recognized as the first wife of the late U.S. Senator and presidential nominee John McCain.

Early Life and Modeling Career

Raised in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, Shepp attended Lansdowne-Aldan High School before pursuing her education at Centenary Junior College for Women in New Jersey, where she studied English. During her young adult years, she worked as a secretary and launched a successful modeling career. Representing brands such as Jantzen swimwear, she featured in runway shows and promotional campaigns across Philadelphia. Her early modeling career established her presence in fashion and promotional media prior to her move into political affairs.

Public Service and Political Career

In late 1979, McCain joined Ronald Reagan's 1980 presidential campaign as a press assistant to Nancy Reagan. Following Reagan's election, she served as director of the 1981 Inaugural Ball and managed scheduling for the First Lady. In 1981, she was appointed Director of the White House Visitors Office, a role she held until 1987. In this position, she oversaw over a million visitors annually, expanded the annual White House Easter Egg Roll into a major public event, and assisted in organizing state arrival ceremonies on the South Lawn. She later worked as an event planner and spokesperson in the private sector.

Personal Life

Carol Shepp married Alasdair E. Swanson in 1958, with whom she had two sons, Douglas and Andrew, before their divorce in 1964. In July 1965, she married John McCain, then a U.S. Navy officer. The couple had a daughter, Sidney, and John McCain legally adopted her two sons. During John McCain's six-year imprisonment during the Vietnam War, she raised their three children independently while advocating for POW/MIA awareness. In 1969, she survived a severe automobile accident that required extensive medical recovery. The McCains divorced amicably in 1980, remaining on friendly terms in subsequent years.