Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush joins Twitter

[News_Editor]

KENNEBUNKPORT, MAINE (BNO NEWS) -- Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush joined the social networking website Twitter on Tuesday, becoming the third U.S. president to do so and sending out a tweet in which he expressed regret at missing Nelson Mandela's memorial service in South Africa.

"You can now follow the 41st President of the United States on Twitter at @GeorgeHWBush, which is where you will find his first Tweet," Bush spokesman Jim McGrath said. It makes 89-year-old Bush the third U.S. president on the social networking website, following incumbent President Barack Obama and former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

In the first tweet, sent out at 3:50 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Bush expressed regret at missing the memorial service for anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela. "Barbara and I wish we could have joined the U.S. delegation honoring President Mandela today. He, and his countrymen, are in our prayers," he said.

Bush immediately gained tens of thousands of followers as word spread that the former leader had joined Twitter, reaching more than 65,000 followers by Wednesday afternoon. Bush himself was following only 12 people, including his sons Jeb and Neil and other members of the Bush family.

Bush, the 41st President of the United States, was in office from January 1989 until January 1993. He also served two terms as President Ronald Reagan's vice president from 1981 until 1989, and he is further the father of former President George W. Bush, who was in office from 2001 until 2009.

Bush has been dealing with health problems in recent years but is still seen regularly. He made news in late July when he shaved his head to show support for 2-year-old cancer patient Patrick, whose father Jon is a Secret Service agent and a member of the Bush Protective Division (BPD).

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