Remembering some of John Dingell's greatest moments on Twitter

A trailblazer for elected officials on Twitter.
 By 
Marcus Gilmer
 on 
Remembering some of John Dingell's greatest moments on Twitter
Former Michigan congressman John Dingell, a true original who passed away at the age of 92 on Thursday. Credit: Getty Images

John Dingell, the longest serving congressman in U.S. history, died on Thursday at the age of 92, surrounded by family at his home in Dearborn, Michigan.

Dingell, a Democrat, served in the House of Representatives for 59 years, stretching from 1955, when he took over the Southeast Michigan seat from his father, until he retired in 2014. Debbie, his wife, won the seat in the election following his retirement and is still serving.

During his time in office, Dingell saw 11 presidents come and go (Eisenhower through Obama) and was involved in an incredible number of landmark bills, from the Endangered Species Act (1973) to the Affordable Care Act (2010).

But Dingell will also be remembered for his sharp sense of humor. He often shared his wit on Twitter and became something of a viral sensation known for his hilariously cantankerous observations, especially those directed at President Donald Trump.

But he didn't shy away from showering just about everyone with his acerbic wit.

Perhaps best of all, he got Twitter, showing an impressive level of social media literacy -- especially for a politician. Whether it was live-tweeting the games of his beloved Michigan teams, getting in on the memes, or quoting Taylor Swift, he was on it.

And he was always happy to laugh at himself, first and foremost.

Even towards the end, he kept the hits coming hard and fast, cracking jokes about Howard Schultz's presidential run and throwing tweet-punches at Trump.

Whatever one thought of his stance on issues and his votes, there's no denying Dingell's legacy and that, with his passing, the country has lost one of it's most original voices.

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Marcus Gilmer

Marcus Gilmer is Mashable's Assistant Real-Times News Editor on the West Coast, reporting on breaking news from his location in San Francisco. An Alabama native, Marcus earned his BA from Birmingham-Southern College and his MFA in Communications from the University of New Orleans. Marcus has previously worked for Chicagoist, The A.V. Club, the Chicago Sun-Times and the San Francisco Chronicle.

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