Trivia question

[Tom Kochtanek]

Just finished reading a book called "Presidents on Wheels". Here's my trivia question:

Who was the first President to ride to his inauguration in an automobile (not, it wasn't an X-frame car!)???

Cheers,
Tom K

[Loafer409]

If I remember correctly it was Harding :p ...09

[Tom Kochtanek]

Loafer, you are near genius :)

The year was 1921, the car was a Packard twin six (supplied by the Republican National Committee). Other Presidents had of course ridden in autos, but Warren G. Harding was the first to attend an inauguration in one.

Teddy Roosevelt, on the ocassion of turning over the Presidency to William Taft in 1913, was reported to have said (in response to an offer to take a ride in an auto) "I Came to the inauguration in this horse-drawn vehicle and I will leave in it". It figures...

William H. Taft was the first to introduce the American Presidency to autos at the White House and in fact converted the White House stables into a garage that housed no less than four cars. None had a "W" engine it I suspect.

Now you have it!

Thanks Loafer!

Tom K