As 2014 comes to a close, take a look back at some of our favorite tweets from Secretary of State John Kerry.
#JKTweetsAgain: Back in action
In February, on his one-year anniversary as secretary of state, Kerry reclaimed his personal Twitter account, @JohnKerry. He had previously used it as a U.S. senator, but had been persuaded by aides at the State Department to use a department account as secretary. After a year, Kerry’s preference to use his own name prevailed, and he wasted no time engaging followers from all over the world as he discussed his experiences as the United States’ top diplomat. His aides introduced his new/old handle with a congratulatory tweet.
#SecretarialSelfie: A first time for everything
After discussing global climate change with a group of students in Jakarta, Indonesia, Kerry grabbed his smartphone and joined them in the audience to take his first “selfie.”
#UnitedforUkraine: Solidarity with the Ukrainian people
In March, Kerry visited the Shrine of the Fallen in Kyiv, Ukraine, where he paid his respects to the victims of the recent violence there.
#WorldCup2014: Fever hits the State Department
While Kerry’s plane stopped to refuel in Cape Verde during a trip back from Africa, he had a chance to kick around a soccer ball with staff, chat about the upcoming World Cup in Brazil … and even take some calls from his foreign counterparts.
#BringBackOurGirls: U.S. sends team to help
After a group of Nigerian schoolgirls were kidnapped by the terrorist group Boko Haram, Kerry, on behalf of President Obama, jumped on the phone to Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan. He pledged U.S. support in bringing back the girls safely, including sending a security team to help the Nigerian government’s efforts.
#OurOcean2014: A threat too great to ignore
In June, Kerry hosted his “Our Ocean” conference at the State Department. It brought together nearly 400 participants from more than 80 nations, including government officials, scientists, private companies and leading international institutions, to determine actions that can help protect ocean ecosystems.
#USChina: A little music diplomacy
During Kerry’s trip to Beijing for the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, he received a special request from China’s Vice Premier Liu Yandong to play music with the performers at the Great Hall. The secretary dusted off his guitar skills and joined right in.
#USAfrica: Welcoming 51 leaders to the State Department
In August, Obama and Kerry welcomed leaders from across the African continent to the State Department for the three-day U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, the first such event of its kind. The summit improved ties between the United States and African countries.
#USDC: The secretaries break ground
In September, Kerry was in good company when he was joined by five former secretaries of state — Hillary Clinton, Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright, James Baker and Henry Kissinger — at the State Department to break ground for the U.S. Diplomacy Center, a state-of-the-art museum and education center.
#ActOnClimate: A global commitment
In December, Kerry traveled to Lima, Peru, where he addressed the U.N. Climate Change Conference regarding the need for a global commitment to tackle the growing threat of climate change.
