Former Rep. John Dingell, known for his lengthy service in the lower chamber and his pithy quips on Twitter, promised to stay in contact with his supporters via the platform Wednesday after moving into hospice care.
The Michigan Democrat, 92, is the longest-serving member of Congress, having first been elected to represent an Ann Arbor-area district in 1955. He succeeded his father John Dingell Sr., and his wife, Rep. Debbie Dingell, won the race to replace him after he stepped down in 2015.
“The Lovely Deborah is insisting I rest and stay off here, but after long negotiations we’ve worked out a deal where she’ll keep up with Twitter for me as I dictate the messages. I want to thank you all for your incredibly kind words and prayers. You’re not done with me just yet,” the former dean of the House tweeted.
The Lovely Deborah is insisting I rest and stay off here, but after long negotiations we’ve worked out a deal where she’ll keep up with Twitter for me as I dictate the messages. I want to thank you all for your incredibly kind words and prayers. You’re not done with me just yet.
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) February 6, 2019
Earlier Wednesday, Debbie Dingell, 65, announced she had skipped Tuesday’s State of the Union address because she and her husband had “entered a new phase.”
“He is my love and we have been a team for nearly 40 years,” she wrote. “I will be taking each day as it comes. We thank people for their friendship and support and ask for prayers and privacy during this difficult time.”
Friends and colleagues know me and know I would be in Washington right now unless something was up. I am home with John and we have entered a new phase. He is my love and we have been a team for nearly 40 years.
— Rep. Debbie Dingell (@RepDebDingell) February 6, 2019
