The First Presidental Electric Car (1909 Edition)

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Here at Shifting Gears, we do our duty on the national holiday designed to honor not just Washington and Lincoln but all our Presidents, from those of meager achievement to those of slightly more than meager achievement. Take William Howard Taft, for example. Our 27th President held office from 1909-1913 and was noted for being quite obsese and for sporting the greatest moustache in the history of the Oval Office. He also switched the White House from horses to cars:

“Although William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt had ridden in automobiles, it was not until William H. Taft became Chief Executive in 1909 that the White House officially changed from horses to cars and began to supply official vehicles for use by the President. Using a $12,000 appropriation, the first White House chauffeur was given the job of identifying the most appropriate cars. Seeking the ‘best deals,’ he purchased one White Steamer, two Pierce-Arrows, and a Baker Electric.”

There’s a lesson in that lineup (taken from the Petersen Automotive Museum’s records): none of those brands exist anymore, just a hundred years later. The best deals of 1909 are mere memories now. And notice, please, that among the list is an electric car. Makes you wonder if a Tesla Model S, Fisker Karma, or even a Chevy Volt will soon join the Obama fleet.

Image: Wikimedia Commons/Library of Congress

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