Evening star., 1939-10-15
Initial White House Motor
Was Huge Landaulet
Used by Taft
9 Today Eight New Official Cars
Are Purchased Annually for
Executive Mansion
By Douglas Nelson Rhodes.

By Douglas Nelson Rhodes.
The President of the United
States glanced again at the engraved
calling card which the usher had
placed on the desk after making his
perfunctory introduction. It bore the
name: o. F. Stanley.
I've heard Of you, Mr.. Stanley u
said the Chief Executive. "You re-
Gently invented a steam propelled
horseless carriage, did you not?"
Eyes, Mr.. President" replied the
visitor, "and have called to inquire
II you will do me the honor Of wit
Messing a demonstration Of my in
vention, at your convenience, and
perhaps take short ride in it,
The President hesitated. II appre-
ciate the invitation, Mr.. Stanley, but
are you quite sure the contraption
Is safe?-You know, as Chief Execu-
tive, I must refrain from taking un-
necessary risks"
"You have my word there will be
not the slightest danger" Stanley
promised and hastened to add "The
news that the President has recog-
nized horseless carriages as q new
mode Of travel will stimulate public
interest in the further development
Of these machines. I venture to pre-
dict that within few years they will
be commonplace means Of trans
portation."
That remains to be seen," said
the President. However, believe
It will do no harm to accept your in
vitation. It may prove an interest
ing experience"
And thus, in 1899, william Nc
Kinley became the first President to
ride in an automobile.
Didn't Like 1t.
Mr.. Mckinley evidently didn't en-
Joy his jaunt in the Stanley steamer
very much, for he is reported to
have afterward confided to a friend
that throughout the ride he expected
every minute to be blown to bits, or
that the vehicle would get out of
control and run away with him and
its inventor.
"Stanley's over-optimistic, I think,
when he says those things will some
day replace horses" Mckinley Is
said to have remarked.
But o. F. Stanley lived to see his
prediction come true, and 20 years
later another of his cars was owned
and driven by another President,
Warren G. Harding, who often
SKINNED over the road at such
q lively clip that he caused much
CONSERVATION among Government
onicials and traffic policemen.
McKinley's successor, Theodore
Roosevelt, was noted for his fond
ness for travel but during his resi-
dence at the White House remained
true to his love of horses, and it
was not until after the Inauguration
OF William Howard Taft that auto
mobiles were considered to be safe
and dependable transportation for
q President.
The first White House car was
. huge, high-wheeled brougham, or
landualet, which loked like a jug
gernaut and sounded like loco
motive. President Taft used this
car both for state business and for
pleasure. The plump, jovial Presi-
dent soon developed into an avid
motorist with pronounced taste for
speed.
Taft Liked Mechanics.
Though he did not drive, Taft was
thoroughly familiar with the me-
.chanical aspects Of motoring and
liked to give competent technical ad-
vice to his chauffeur. One time,
while touring on country road out
side the Capital, the big car faltered
and stalled-as 1t was wont to do at
frequent intervals. The President
Immediately got out and assumed
the role of diagnostician, superin-
tending the chauffeur's futile at
tempts to locate the source of
trouble. Finally the President be-
came annoyed at the delay and
chided the man for his deficiency as
Q mechanic. Whereupon the now
thoroughly exasperated chauffeur is
reported to have turned on his chief
and said heatedly, IF we don't find
the trouble it'll be your fault, Mr..
President. You're the mechanic In
this outfit-an I do is furnish the
muscle power and get smeared with
the grease!"
Taft took the rebuke good humor-
edly and afterward restrained him
self from kbitzing whenever the car
underwent roadside repairs.
Before Taft quit the White House,
two other automobiles were pur-
chased for him. One-an open tour
Ing car-was used to carry Secret
Service men who closely followed the
Presidents vehicle wherever it went,
an omnipresent motor escort which
has guarded Chief Executives ever
since. The other machine was q
luxurious limousine for state occas-
Ions. The gigantic landaulet, how
ever, remained Taft's favorite car
because its folding top afforded him
. better view of the passing scenery.
Woodrow Wilson also liked the
landaulet for this reason. The war
time President, though he enjoyed