He was scheduled to give the address Tuesday night at the USS Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum in New York.

CNN: McCain decries influence of politics in military

Last year, his ballet "Homecoming, " which explores war and relationships when soldiers return, was presented aboard the USS Intrepid during Fleet Week.

WSJ: Local Soldier's Iraq Trek, From Bullets to Ballet

But unlike the USS Intrepid in New York City or the USS Midway in San Diego, the Enterprise is not destined to become a floating museum.

CNN: USS Enterprise sailing off to history's scrap heap