Happy birthday, twitter. The microblogging platform turned eight years old Friday, and celebrated by releasing a tool to help users find their own first tweets.
In the eight years since it launched, twitter has changed how politicians connect with constituents, so how did politicians enter the twitter-verse?
For most, the first tweet followed one of two styles. Either they tweeted an excited “welcome to Twitter”-like message, or they hopped right into the mix and chronicled whatever they were up to or interested in. We collected a few of the most noteworthy inaugural tweets.
When he was still merely a senator, Barack Obama took the latter approach tweeted about ending the Iraq War.
Thinking we're only one signature away from ending the war in Iraq.
Learn more at http://www.barackobama.com
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 29, 2007When she joined a few years later, first lady Michelle Obama took the welcome approach.
We're excited today to launch @michelleobama as a new way for you to connect with First Lady Michelle Obama and the President's campaign.
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) January 12, 2012Vice President Joe Biden launched the VP twitter handle with a message for the armed forces.
VP & Dr. B hope you take time to think about our troops & military families this Independence Day, Happy 4th from OVP! @JoiningForces
— Office of VP Biden (@VP) July 4, 2011Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton joined after an image of her using her blackberry went viral when a couple of bloggers created Texts from Hillary.
Thanks for the inspiration @ASmith83 & @Sllambe – I'll take it from here… #tweetsfromhillary
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 10, 2013House Speaker John Boehner kicked things off with a link to an op-ed he wrote criticizing then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Have an op-ed on TownHall.com: http://tinyurl.com/ytndvb
— John Boehner (@johnboehner) April 21, 2007Sen. Cory Booker, one of the most prolific tweeters in Washington with more than 35,000 tweets, kicked things off by encouraging followers to check out his latest interview with msnbc’s Rachel Maddow.
Check out my interview on The Rachel Maddow Show available on my YouTube channel – http://www.youtube.com/user/CoryBookerdotcom
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) November 6, 2008Former Gov. Mitt Romney went with a link list to his favorite reads of the day back in July 2009.
BLOGGED: Today's Reads (7/8) http://bit.ly/10TSAd
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) July 8, 2009Rep. Paul Ryan made a confused entry into the twitter-verse.
Entering the brave new world of Twitter. What the heck is this anyway?
— Paul Ryan (@RepPaulRyan) February 4, 2009Less than two weeks until showtime! Are you as excited as we are?
— The Last Word (@TheLastWord) September 14, 2010Want to figure out what your first tweet was? You can do it here, just like we did.
Rev. Sharpton kicked off his twitter presence with the type of message he has sent many times since, sharing his travel plans.
is back in NY from preaching in Tampa yesterday and enjoying my Memorial Day!
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) May 25, 2009PoliticsNation‘s first tweet came a little more than a week after our show began.
Good Morning PoliticsNation! Today- we start tweeting. Follow for show info, guest previews, and links we love (or think are important)
— PoliticsNation (@PoliticsNation) September 8, 2011Check out how the some of the rest of the msnbc family entered the twitter-verse, below:
Stocks skid after latest jobs report http://tinyurl.com/d2hgg
— msnbc (@msnbc) January 4, 2008keith olbermann congratulating me about my new show http://msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/
— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) September 4, 2008Hey tweeps — this is now the official home of @TheReidReport on @msnbc. Follow us for updates, and watch Feb 24th at 2pm ET!
— The Reid Report (@TheReidReport) February 18, 2014This is the brand-new Twitter account of @msnbc's new weekend show hosted by @MHarrisPerry. Stay tuned for a big announcement next week.
— Melissa @ MSNBC (@MHPshow) January 26, 2012Check out @thecyclemsnbc team on @dylanratigan today previewing the new show!
— The Cycle (@thecyclemsnbc) June 22, 2012Get ready for "The Daily Rundown" at 9am beginning January 11th on MSNBC with Chuck Todd and Savannah Guthrie.
— The Daily Rundown (@dailyrundown) December 28, 2009msnbc's all new DISRUPT with Karen Finney premieres this Saturday June 8 at 4pm ET.
Don't miss it!!
— Disrupt with Karen (@msnbcDisrupt) June 7, 2013Ronan Farrow Daily premieres on @msnbc on Monday, Feb 24 at 1pm ET! Follow us for updates. pic.twitter.com/EJjlZk4F1z
— Team Ronan Daily (@RonanDaily) February 18, 2014Gearing up for tomorrow's debut show! @DanRatherReport, @jheil, @maggiepolitico & @TheRevAl will join @AlexWagner starting noon ET @msnbctv
— NowWithAlex (@NowWithAlex) November 13, 2011If no one is following this or looking for it, does that mean no one will notice what I'm wearing?
— Maddow Blog (@MaddowBlog) December 2, 2009@markknoller hey so cool that you got the question today.how many state dinners for u
— Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) November 24, 2009Beck’s convenient memory lapse – http://bit.ly/18Wqny
— Ed Schultz (@edshow) September 17, 2009Thanks for all the kind words after last week's launch! Putting the final touches on tomorrow's program right now…
— Up w/ Steve Kornacki (@upwithsteve) September 23, 2011
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