Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) sought to reassure voters Tuesday that he is working to control a temper that has at times rubbed even members of his own party the wrong way.

Speaking at his alma mater, Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va., the presumptive GOP presidential nominee spoke about his time there and acknowledged that his father’s Naval career and the many moves his family consequently endured made him combative throughout his life.

The Arizona senator admitted: “As an adult I’ve been known to forget, occasionally, the discretion expected of a person of my years and station when I believe I’ve been accorded a lack of respect I did not deserve.

“Self-improvement should be a work in progress all our lives, and I confess to needing it as much as anyone,” McCain said, before adding light-heartedly: “But I believe if my detractors had known me at Episcopal, they might marvel at the self-restraint and mellowness I developed as an adult.”

Later, during a question-and-answer session with students of the 430-pupil boarding school, McCain struck a humble tone in describing himself as a “very imperfect public servant.”

“The key to it is you try to live up to standards, and sooner or later — in my case, later — you can improve,” McCain said.

During the GOP primary, Cochran, who had supported former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R), told The Boston Globe that the possibility of electing an “erratic” and “hot-headed” McCain to the White House “sends a cold chill down my spine.”

Santorum, meanwhile, said in a robocall for Romney that he didn’t think McCain had the required “temperament and leadership ability” to take the country in the right direction.

McCain, who is on a tour of Mississippi, Virginia, Florida, Maryland and Arizona to highlight his family background and military service, pledged to run a respectful campaign with whomever the Democratic nominee turns out to be.

He spent much of his speech praising his English teacher and junior varsity football coach, William Ravenel, whom he described as the most important person in his young life outside of his family.

He also used Ravenel’s example to reinforce his support for No Child Left Behind and school choice.

“Because he helped teach me to be a man, and to believe in the possibility that we are not captive to the worst parts of our nature, I will always believe that there is a Mr. Ravenel somewhere for every child who needs him,” McCain said.