Roosevelt's Firsts in Transportation
Theodore Roosevelt, the only cowpuncher president in American history rope horses, herd cattle, hunt buffalo, control stampedes, lasso steer and charge up the San Juan Heights on a horse; wasn't that keen on automobiles.
For TR they simply weren't as much fun. It was said one of the real advantages to owning a horse was if you got drunk the horse always knew its way home. You were out of luck if you had a car. Gas was bought at the pharmacy.
122 years ago on August 22, 1902. TR was the first president to be seen riding in an automobile.
They had brought an automobile to the White House and McKinley was taken for a spin, but he wasn't identified in public. TR became the first.
He was up in Hartford in what the New York Times described as a “handsome [Columbia Electric] Victoria automobile” expertly manned by two chauffeurs.
They sped through Hartford at 10 mph. In 1902 some thought reaching the blistering speed of 10 mph was putting your life at risk.
In a 1905 letter he wrote, “Motor cars are a trial, aren't they? "I suppose that ultimately we will get them into their proper place in the scheme of nature, and when by law and custom their use is regulated in proper fashion their objectionable features will probably be eliminated; but just at present I regard them as distinct additions to the discomfort of living.”