THIS CAR MATTERS: President Taft's 1909 White Steam Car

The HVA takes a close look at the first presidential automobile, a 1909 White Model "M" Steam Car used to transport William Howard Taft. Taft was America’s first “automobilist” President and the first to use a fleet of automobiles for regular transportation. President Taft’s enthusiasm helped promote the early adoption of the automobile in America. The first automotive fleet comprised a 1909 White Steam Car, two gasoline powered Pierce Arrows and a 1909 Baker electric.

[@codycowell6211]

My grandfather, dad & I loved this video! I come from a family of mechanics & we all in joyed this video!

[@1blisslife]

I think the Automobile impacted this country & then the world!

[@Aloysius99]

Beautiful film. Well put together. Great music track. More of these please.

[@joncapistron7094]

I am privileged to take care of this car.

[@JamesAllmond]

Does the White run? Does she get driven?

[@joncapistron7094]

This car is a static display.

[@Kaputnik11]

@@joncapistron7094 I'd love to see it run

[@bestsatverbalprepstrategie1652]

@@Kaputnik11 There are some collectors that still run Whites. It's an amazing experience!

[@Kaputnik11]

@@bestsatverbalprepstrategie1652 I imagine so! I've never seen a steam car run. But I bet it is a wonderful experience.

[@lynneposada8631]

Wow beautiful car kept in pristine condition!! Great video

[@curtisspool1433]

Great video, but zero mention of the fact that Taft also ordered two Pierce-Arrow cars for the White House as well as the White Steamer in 1909. (a few of those phots of Taft in the Pierce-Arrows are used in this video) The White Steam car discontinued manufacture in 1910. Pierce-Arrow continued to serve the White House until their demise in 1938.

[@ImTHATguy...]

There's a sense of craftsmanship with that car that you just don't see with cars these days. Not saying that cars these days aren't nice, but just look at that thing!

[@clydemorgan1439]

I think Henry Ford had a much bigger impact on the public with his model T especially with farmers who hated cars in the beginning (scared their horses and there were many irresponsible auto drivers diving way too fast) until Ford marketed his car a a useful farm tool. In 1909 more people lived in the country than in cities so it was an important market. BTW in 1909 140,000 autos were produced and 2 million horse buggies, wagons and carriages were produce that same year, by 1921 just 12 yrs later the numbers were reversed. 1909 was also the first full year of production of the model T.

[@pretoshohmoofcguy6523]

And it only took 45 min to start. LOL!

[@100equus]

High tech at the dawn of the 20th century.

[@sardiniuspilchardus]

Great film but does it actually still run or is it just a polished exhibit?

[@timshelby2324]

Taft would need a Clydesdale .

[@slycad]

Beautiful car. Just curious, all the old photos show the White name on the is at least twice the size on the restored car. Why?

[@slycad]

Should have said " White name on the radiator".

[@pookah53]

I think it's a different car. I read elsewhere that the one in the old photo from Taft's inauguration was a 1907 White, his personal car that he brought to the White House with him. After becoming President, he ordered the 1909 Model M in the video and three others for use as White House staff cars.

[@godfreyberry1599]

Way the world is going, I hope I'm wrong, but the upcoming generations appear to not really care about these quality testaments to technology and ingenuity. Mass amnesia appears to be the order of the day with memory spans in the 1year / 6 month bracket and what could transpire tomorrow. A really SCARY reality.

[@jertymorales5441]

Did President Taft ever had a model T?

[@charlesgale4257]

he was probably to fat

[@vincentjacobsson3981]

I think it should be investigated if the American states now and then are legislated with the Bible written as a story. The word immunity (Latin immunitas, freedom from obligations to the state) comes from a religious revelation from the middle ages, most likely from a pope to become lawless, and which has since been rewritten into sovereign, absolute, and qualified immunity (legally, cannot be prosecuted for criminal act) to the president, senate (origin, the Roman Empire), congress, cabinet, and Supreme Court for law decisions and actions. The political exploitation of the vital ecosystem has led to forest death, how will that affect people's economy, etc? I also think The Democratic party can be a consciously misleading party name with all parties belonging to The Republican party, as current political democracy and socialism can only be about going more toward the middle, eg. The Democrats for law decisions and actions, even with the misleading word professional politician. Furthermore, I think the people should consider voting for a real democratic party with an independent state formation to investigate if the president, parties, senate (origin, the Roman Empire), congress, cabinet, and Supreme Court overall may be guilty of a violation of democratic rights with misleading elections, serious economic crimes, violation of human rights with class society for adults and children, and serious environmental crime (force majeure).