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Hillary Clinton email release reveals an inside look at State Dept life

U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden (R) shakes hands with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) as her husband former President Bill Clinton (2nd L), her daughter Chelsea (3rd L) and her mother Dorothy Rodham (4th L) look on during her ceremonial swearing-in at the State Department February 2, 2009 in Washington, DC. Alex Wong, Getty Images

Of Hillary Clinton's nearly 3,000 pages of emails released Tuesday night by the State Department, a vast portion seemed less concerned with politics than with the mundane aspects of office life. But while information about Benghazi may have been lacking in these emails -- the majority date back to before the 2012 terrorist attack in Libya -- what they do provide is a look into the everyday challenges for the secretary of state.

CBS News take a look at some of these more notable difficulties, including "twittering," well-intentioned teasing from former diplomats, and the intricacies of office technology:

Hillary Clinton doesn't know how to work a fax machine

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton holds up a cell phone as she explains how Americans can donate via text message to aid in helping victims of severe flooding in Pakistan, during a statement at the State Department in Washington, DC, August 4, 2010. SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

One back-and-forth in December 2009 between Abedin and "hrod17@clintonemail.com" showed the long-time aide informing then-Secretary Clinton on how to use a fax machine.

"[C]an you hang up the fax line, they will call again and try fax," Abedin's subject line read.

Clinton's response: "I thought it was supposed to be off hook to work?"

Abedin had to explain that Clinton needed to "hang up one more time" so the caller "can reestablish the line." Another message from Abedin in the email chain instructed: "Just pick up phone and hang it up. And leave it hung up."

According to the email record, Clinton was still having some trouble working the fax line after two tries.

One email exchange also showed that Cheryl Mills, Clinton's chief of staff, was concerned about someone "Twittering" in Clinton's name.

"Not sure who is Twittering at DOS," Mills wrote in a subject line, before continuing that "we should not be twittering in the Secretary's name since she is not the person actually twittering."

Staffer Alec Ross explained in a response that he did "not believe there is Twittering in the Secretary's name" -- rather, the tweets were coming from a State Department blog that "will occasionally quote the Secretary but the Twittering should not be done in her name."

Mills eventually forwarded the exchange to Clinton.

The former secretary admitted to her staff that she was unlikely to be labeled a "techie" any time soon. In an email chain in which Clinton approved a scheduled speech on information freedom, the secretary added that the content "makes me sound like a techie (which is good, albeit a stretch)."

President Obama was lucky that Clinton didn't choose to "camp" out in the Oval Office

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (R) and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger participate in "Conversations on Diplomacy, Moderated by Charlie Rose,” at the Department of State in Washington, DC, on April 20, 2011. JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images

Referencing a joint 2009 interview with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Clinton added that unlike "K," who saw President Nixon every day, Clinton met with President Obama at least once a week.

"In thinking about the Kissinger interview, the only issue I think that might be raised is that I see POTUS at least once a week while K saw Nixon everyday," Clinton wrote in an email. "[I]f I were dealing w that POTUS I'd probably camp in his office to prevent him from doing something problematic."

Clinton was worried about her distance from White House

U.S. President Barack Obama (R) speaks as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton listens at a cabinet meeting at the White House on November 28, 2012 in Washington, DC. The president met yesterday with small business owners and today with the chief executives of major corporations in ongoing talks about the looming fiscal cliff. Pool, Getty Images

In June 8, 2009, Clinton sent a message to aides expressing concern for a possible disconnect from the Obama administration.

"I heard on the radio that there is a Cabinet mtg this am," Clinton wrote. "Is there? Can I go? If not, who are we sending?" According to the New York Times, it turned out it was not a cabinet meeting but one for lower-level officials.

Four days later, Clinton emailed her staffers after appearing for a meeting at the White House -- only to be told it was canceled.

"I arrived for the 10:15 mtg and was told there was no mtg. Matt said they had "released" the time," she wrote. "This is the second time this has happened. What's up???"

Like true friends, Clinton's circle teased her even when she was down

U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) (L) introduces U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) at an EMILY's List gala during day two of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the Sheraton Denver Hotel August 26, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. Getty Images

After the former secretary took a nasty fall in 2009 and fractured her right elbow, several people reached out to Clinton to express their concern -- and to rib her over her clumsiness.

"Oops. When I wanted you to trip the light fantastic. I didn't mean that literally. Be careful. Do the therapy. Get well," Maryland Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski wrote in June 2009.

Clinton responded: "Barb--Thanks, my dear friend, for your good wishes. I am on the mend... Let's try again for dinner soon."

Mikulski later replied with a typo-filled missive, saying that she "knew this was painful combined with logistics of being a woman." She added that other female senators wanted to send their support: "Senate. Women had dinner anyway---all sent good words. And encouragement. To a woman theyb all said. Oh my imagine just getting dressed and the. Hair thing. Get your therapy. Get better."

Obama strategist David Axelrod also wished her a speedy recovery.

"So sorry!" Axelrod wrote. "You are an all-star player, and we need you for the long run!"

And from former Secretary of State Colin Powell: "Hillary, Is it true that Holbrooke tripped you? Just kidding. Get better fast, we need you running around. Good being with you the other evening. cp"

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