Who was the first president to ride in a car?
Theodore Roosevelt was the first U.S. President to ride in a car in public.
He rode in an electric car through Hartford, Connecticut, on August 22, 1902. This event helped people see cars as a real way to travel instead of just a dangerous hobby.
Nerd's Section
The car was a Columbia Electric Victoria made by the Electric Vehicle Company. In 1902, electric cars were more popular than gas cars. They were quiet, did not smell bad, and were easier to start than gas engines.Secret Service agents followed the President on bicycles during the parade. The agency did not have its own cars yet. Roosevelt usually preferred horses, but he agreed to the ride to support local businesses.The electric car reached a top speed of 13 miles per hour. It could travel about 40 miles on one battery charge. This was slower than a galloping horse, but the ride became famous across the country.The White House did not replace its stables with a garage until 1909. President William Howard Taft bought the first official fleet of four cars that year. This ended the use of horse-drawn carriages for the President.
Verified Fact
FP-0002350 · Mar 17, 2026