McCain's mom recalls youth in Muskogee

Roberta Wright McCain, the mother of Republican presidential hopeful John McCain, said she remembers Muskogee through the eyes of a child.

Now 96 and living in Washington, D.C., she and her identical twin sister, Rowena, were born Feb. 7, 1912, in Muskogee at 1027 Fondulac St., now Martin Luther King St.

McCain has fond memories of Muskogee.

"It is such a lovely town," she said. "It had beautiful surroundings. I remember the Katy Railroad went right through there. It was by the Severs Hotel. I also remember my favorite park. It was on the east side of town, I believe. It had a beautiful bridge over a small lake. I have a lot of good memories of the park."

McCain said she also remembers the school she attended where she learned about the Five Civilized Tribes.

"I was in school through eighth grade, I went to Franklin," she said. "I remember Mrs. Morton was our principal. I can hardly remember what the names of the civilized tribes were, though."

McCain, an oil heiress, defied her family and eloped with a Navy man, John McCain Jr.

"I got married young," she said. "I was 20 years old, and it was the best decision I ever made."

McCain said she was glad she had her children young, too.

"I was too young and irresponsible to know you were supposed to worry about them," she said. "I just let them go. I got a kick out of watching them."

McCain said she traveled back to Muskogee twice.

"I was driving around the continent, and I made it my business to go back to Muskogee," she said.

The first time McCain visited the home of her birth and youth, she said she was too shy to ask the owner's permission to look around inside.

"I didn't know anybody in town, of course," she said.

But on her second visit, she said she changed her mind.

"The second time I came back, I knew I had to get in that house," she said. "The homeowners were the most gracious, warm and hospitable people, and they let me in with no reservations."

Delbert and Priscilla Jackson now own McCain's first home. When McCain returned to the house, they said they were happy to let her in.

"She was such a dainty woman, and so sweet," Priscilla Jackson said of that visit, about 25 years ago.

And according to the Jacksons, the three-story, white house on the corner of 10th and Martin Luther King streets hasn't changed that much.

"We added two more bedrooms on the third story, making it seven bedrooms," Jackson said. "Other than that, it's pretty much the same."

The Jacksons said it was great to visit with McCain then and said she is welcome to come back anytime.

McCain said she enjoys traveling all over the world with her twin sister.

"I love to travel," she said. "I am interested in every place I visit, even after I have gone."