Steam, Electric, Gasoline

From The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism* a friend sent me a paragraph describing the first cars in the White House stable of Roosevelt turned garage for Taft. “... Taft converted the stable which had held Roosevelts jumpers, pacers, and calipers into an oversized garage for his Model M steam touring convertible, a Pierce Arrow Limousine and a Baker Queen electric which Nellie learned to drive.” I have long known about the large White steam car that President Taft (1909-1913) purchased, 

but the others surprised me into searching for pictures. Taft's Baker electric apparently is still in existence, privately owned. 

The Pierce limousine dates before the streamline-design headlamps later built into the front fenders, which became a signature for recognizing Pierce Arrow cars. 

About 1903 to 1913 was the “brass era” of American cars, and there were some real beauties. That's a White steamer:

It was before bumpers, before electric headlamps, before left-hand drive was standardized for American automobiles. Before many things. Would I go back? 

TW    

* Doris Kearns Goodwin, November 5, 2013, Simon and Schuster