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John Dingell, the longest-serving US representative in history, who died on Thursday at the age of 92, leaves behind him an important legacy — and a pretty great Twitter account.
The Michigan Congress member, who served in the US House of Representatives from 1955 to 2015, has for years been one of the most fun figures to watch on social media. His Twitter account demonstrated a biting humor and quick wit as he weighed in on politics, sports, and culture.
Just last week, he took a shot at former Starbucks chair and CEO Howard Schultz, who is weighing an independent run for the White House in 2020. “Someone told me that the man behind everyone’s favorite coffee cup might run for President and I just want to wish @TimHortons the very best. You have my support,” he wrote, referring to the Canadian coffee company.
When President Trump weighed in on the ongoing scandal surrounding Virginia’s governorship over the weekend, Dingell quipped, “Buddy, I think you might want to sit this one out.”
Dingell’s Twitter feed was lively up until the end: Wednesday, the day before he died, Dingell tweeted that he had, after “long negotiations” with his wife, Debbie, gotten her to agree to keep up with Twitter. “I just want to thank you all for your incredibly kind words and prayers,” he tweeted.
Dingell, whom the Wall Street Journal in 2014 called Congress’s “breakout star on Twitter,” has had a lot of great tweets over the years. After his passing on Thursday, a 2017 tweet he sent in the wake of racist violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, swept across the internet.
I signed up to fight Nazis 73 years ago and I'll do it again if I have to.
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) August 12, 2017
Hatred, bigotry, & fascism should have no place in this country.
Dingell started his Twitter account in 2010 and amassed more than 250,000 followers. Here are some of his best tweets from over the years:
The Titanic avoided icebergs, with few exceptions. https://t.co/pWo2u2PmHY
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) May 12, 2017
I fought for universal healthcare for 89 yrs and forgot to slip in one damn line requiring super-long phone chargers during hospital stays.
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) October 10, 2015
We should have all just stared at the eclipse.
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) August 23, 2017
What is the T doing to that P? https://t.co/tDvYm2QJYi
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) July 15, 2016
Staff has now informed me of what a Kardashian is.
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) July 22, 2014
I'm only left with more questions.
Today is also likely the only day that Meryl Streep and I will be wearing the same thing.
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) November 24, 2014
So, who wore it best? pic.twitter.com/Kql9JPkhLN
Monday, I got word I'd receive the Medal of Freedom.
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) November 14, 2014
Today, staff wants me to watch Too Many Cooks.
Life is a series of strikes & gutters.
I just groaned so hard my Life Alert button pressed itself. https://t.co/gq1IPjixTQ
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) April 7, 2016
Feeling old because you remember when Pluto was a planet back when you were younger?
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) July 15, 2015
I was born before they even discovered the darn thing.
43 years ago today. Concise and to the point.
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) August 9, 2017
You could even fit it in a tweet, @realDonaldTrump. pic.twitter.com/1rtKdCUwM4
Snubbed for the 89th straight year. I'm feeling good about 90 though. https://t.co/JerX6O1Dco
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) November 18, 2015
Who knew health care could be so complicated?
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 21, 2017
Maybe we should all just delete our accounts.
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) November 29, 2016
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