Cindy McCain Gives First Interview Since Her Husbands Death On CBS THIS MORNING 11/16

In her first interview since her husband's death in August, Cindy McCain opens up to CBS THIS MORNING co-host John Dickerson about her husband's legacy, what she believes he would think of the current state of political discourse, and more.

"I think he would be terribly frustrated," McCain said. "You know, he was THE ONE that was the kind of the conscience of the Senate, I believe. And his ability to at least bring people together and talk about it-- in whatever way he could was very important. And we've lost his voice. And consequently, I saw an elective process this year unlike anything I've ever seen. You know, I think many people would say that... It was abominable. He would've I know, quite frankly, would've said, "Enough. We-- this is-- this is not only wrong but it's bad for the country."

The interview will air tomorrow on CBS THIS MORNING (7:00-9:00 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. A preview will be broadcast tonight on the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH JEFF GLOR (6:30-7:00 PM, ET) and on CBSN, CBS News' 24/7 streaming news service.


Click HERE to watch a preview and read the CBSNews.com story below:

Cindy McCain believes her late husband, Sen. John McCain, would be "terribly frustrated and terribly distraught" by the current state of political discourse. She shared her feelings with CBS THIS MORNING co-host John Dickerson in her first interview since the senator's death in August.

The military hero and longtime lawmaker was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in July 2017. But he remained an outspoken member of Congress even as he fought the disease.

"He was THE ONE that was kind of the conscience of the Senate, I believe, and his ability to at least bring people together and talk about it in whatever way he could was very important, and we've lost his voice," McCain said.

She believes her husband would want current leaders in Washington to take a step back and learn from past relationships her husband shared with members of the opposite party, like Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy, who died in 2009.

That message of unity was on display as McCain's family mourned his death. His daughter, Meghan McCain, paid tribute to her father at a memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral, and gave a sharp rebuke of President Trump's motto, "Make America Great Again."

"The America of John McCain has no need to be made great again because America was always great," Meghan McCain said.

The remark, which was met with applause, was a surprise to Cindy McCain, who said she did not know what her daughter was going to say.

"I will say that our children obviously took this very hard. All of them did, especially Meghan. And Meghan is certainly entitled to and speaks her mind just like her father did," McCain said. "And I respect her for that, and I had not read her speech. I did not know what she was going to say but I was very proud of her, very proud of her that day. It was hard to give."

Watch John Dickerson's full interview with Cindy McCain Friday, Nov. 16, on CBS THIS MORNING, which airs 7:00-9:00 AM, ET/PT.