Evening star., 1933-03-05
SEVEN PRESIDENTS
|. FOND0F MOTORING
Harding First Chief Executive
to Use Auto in Inaugural
Parade.
BY JAMES WALDO FAwcErr.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, inaugurated
yesterday. is the seventh President Of
the Motor Age. OF his predecessors at
the White House six used automobiles
while In ONCE. They were Theodore
Roosevelt. William Howard Taft, Wood
row Wilson. Warren G. Harding. Calvin
Coolidge and Herbert Hoover.
The new Chief Executives celebrated
cousin, IT. r." was in charge Of the
destinies Of the Nation when motor
driven vehicles first became popular,
but, somewhat strangely perhaps In the
case OF one who had no special fear OF
innovations. he did not take kindly to
"the new-fangled contraption." Occa-
sionally. nevertheless. he was to be seen
in an early model REQ. and an unau-
thenticated report tells that he once
was in q wreck in Rock Greek Park.
He recommended the use Of an auto
mobile to the delegates to the Ports
mouth Conference, which closed the
Russo-Japanese War. His daughter
Alice, Mrs. Nicholas Longworth to-be,
owned an electric runabout, drove It
herself and sometimes made long tours
in it. At Oyster Bay the Roosevelt
family used Q car to run back and
forth to the railroad station.
White Hsuse Garage Origin.
White House garage. He had Q White
model of early vintage and, later, q
Packard. While President he earned
a reputation as "a knight Of the road"
and as something of q SpeedSter." eHe
enjoyed travelling at good pace and
Is said to have been the only Chief
Magistrate to patropize an auto race
course. At the opening Of the Atlanta
Speedway he went round the track ut
Sc miles an hour. With members Of
his family and friends he made trips
to the Canadian border In vacation
time.
Woodrow Wilson preferred an open
car. He liked to sit with the driver.
Frequently while President he was to
be seen along the Maryland and Viz
ginia roads. out for q run In the coun-
try. He owned q Pierce-Arrow and
motored until within a week Of his
death. On his last birthday anniversary
a group Of admirers presented him with
Rolls-Royce, but it Is said that he
never used it.
Warren @. Harding had q Locomo-
bile before coming to the White House
and he drove it himself. He did not
relish slow driving" and in his travels
he stepped on the gas" AS President
he went on motor camping tours with
Thomas A. Edison, Harvey Firestone
and Henry Ford.
Calvin Coolidge was the most eau
tious of the automobiling Presidents
He was careful observer of all the
rules Of the road and did not mind
bowling along at Is miles an hour.
Herbert Hoover had nine cars in the
garage of the Executive Mansion during
his term. Hubert Holloway of the
American Automobile Association, in
1928, said of him: Although q mo-
toriSt at heart and interested in every
phase Of the motor car, MIR. Hoover
motors as he lives. When he enters
his motor car he relaxes and his drives,
even from his home to his Office, are
we'll and leisurely planned Not even
the most fervid imagination could pic
ture Mr.. Hoover rushing at any time"
The same writer testified that Mr.
Hoover is not above getting out and
lending a hand in time of difficulty
He called the First National Confer
ence on Street and Highway Safety.
Roosevelt Motorist Since 1910.
Franklin D. Roosevelt has been a mo-
torist since 1910 In that year he
campaigned for q seat in the New
York State Senate, using an automobile
to tour his district. As Governor Of
New York he Is supposed to have ex-
pressed q preference for q Packard car
Mr.. Harding was the first President
to 60 by automobile to the Capitol to
take the inaugural oath. His COM
panions on his ride up Pennsylvania
avenue March 4, 1921, were President
Wilson, Senator Knox and Speaker
Cannon.
Many stories are told OF motoring
Chief Executives. One that - related
about Mr.. Taft Is. perhaps. worthy Of
mention. The President had been on
a tour in New England, going from
town to town as rapidly as the law and
nature allowed. Two years later the
mayor Of one Of these communities
happened to be in Warrington and
called at the White House. When he
was presented, Mr.. Taft said: "Oh. yes,
Mr.. Mayor, I passed through your town
Summer before last" quite 80. Mr.
President" replied the guest. and the
dist has mt VET settled"