Who says an old dog can’t learn new tricks?
U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall, the 89-year-old Republican congressman from Texas, joined Twitter this week, marking an exciting technological leap for the oldest member of Congress.
Hall, who has represented Texas’s 4th Congressional District (which encompasses an area along the Red River just north of Dallas-Fort Worth) since 1980, signed up for the micro-blogging service under the handle @RalphHallPress.
“I am pleased to join Twitter in an effort to enhance communication with constituents of the 4th District of Texas,” Hall said in a statement released by his office. “Twitter will allow my constituents to follow important votes and daily activity on Capitol Hill, as well as important issues facing our Nation.”
“Twitter is also an economically responsible form of communication — no taxpayer dollars were spent to open my account, and constituents can read and join Twitter for free,” he added. “It is my priority to listen to the voices of my constituents and focus my efforts on their behalf, and Twitter will enhance my ability to do so.”
Hall, who will turn 90 in May, may be old, but his excitement about social media proves he is still curious.
“First thing — the name fascinates me. Twitter — where did they get that?” he told NBCDFW.com.
Since signing up Feb. 6, Hall has so far attracted 148 followers.
His inaugural tweet was a tribute to the late Ronald Reagan.
“Happy 102nd Birthday to our 40th President, Ronald Reagan,” Hall tweeted. He has since tweeted five other times, mostly about energy and science-related issues, as Hall is the former chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.
