On August 22, 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt etched his name into the record books by becoming the first sitting president to take a public automobile ride. The momentous occasion unfolded on the streets of Hartford, Connecticut, while Roosevelt carried out his official presidential responsibilities.
The Historic Ride:
The occasion was tied to a New England campaign swing designed to bolster Republican congressional candidates, with Roosevelt working to ensure his party maintained its grip on both the House and the Senate. Joining the President inside the gleaming new electric automobile was Colonel J.L. Green, while a group of riders on horseback trailed closely behind the vehicle.
Roosevelt and Colonel Green rode in style aboard a Columbia Electric Victoria Phaeton, with two additional chauffeurs rounding out the driving contingent. The elegant car boasted an interior lined with purple velvet and offered four distinct speed settings, topping out at 13 miles per hour. Throngs of spectators packed the sidewalks to witness what would become the first-ever Presidential Motorcade, and Roosevelt delighted the crowd by waving and calling out greetings as he passed. The public response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic.
Once the motorcade wrapped up, Roosevelt spoke highly of electric vehicle technology and gave his personal endorsement to the Columbia Victoria Phaeton model. Behind closed doors, though, he confided that the ride hadn't been particularly comfortable and that he still much preferred traveling on horseback.
Fun Fact: While this ride made headlines, Theodore Roosevelt wasn't technically the first American president to climb into an automobile. That distinction actually goes to President McKinley, who took a trip in a Stanley Motor steam car back in 1901. What set Roosevelt apart was that his ride marked the first time a president used an automobile publicly in the course of carrying out official presidential duties.