President William Taft (1909-1913) was the first to make the "horseless carriage" the president's official mode of transport. For his part, Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921) understood the importance of this method of transportation. In order to quickly respond to any State emergency, he insisted that the official cars always be available in under three minutes. At that time, though, the White House cars were still nothing more than expensive standard models.
When in 1933 a man failed in his attempt to assassinate president Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945), the United States Secret Service realized the risks the president was exposed to in an automobile. The car he had ridden in was rebodied and put back into service in 1939, heavily armoured.
When in 1933 a man failed in his attempt to assassinate president Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945), the United States Secret Service realized the risks the president was exposed to in an automobile. The car he had ridden in was rebodied and put back into service in 1939, heavily armoured.
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| Instead of using the official White House car, the 1950 four-door Lincoln Cosmopolitan convertible, Dwight Eisenhower (1953-1961) chose a 1953 Cadillac Eldorado for the parade following his presidential inauguration ceremony. It was one of 532 units of the new model produced that year. |
