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First Presidential Auto on Display on National Mall: Taft Biographer Michael Bromley Joins Celebration of Historic Vehicles in “Cars at the Capital” Event

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Taft biographer Michael BromleySchool4Schools.com LLC & the A+ Club founder and president Michael Bromley a featured participant in the “Cars at the Capital” event on the National Mall on April 14, 2016.

Celebrating the first White House automobile, a 1909 White Model “M” 40 HP steam car that was used by President William Howard Taft, the Historic Vehicle Association (HVA) , in conjunction with the Heritage Museums & Gardens of Sandwich, MA, has placed the Taft auto on the National Mall for public view.

Along with a 1962 Willys Jeep CJ-6 owned by Ronald Reagan, the Taft auto will be entered into the National Historic Vehicle Register which aims to “document America’s most historically significant automobiles, motorcycles, trucks and commercial vehicles.” The Taft car will be Historic Vehicle no. 9.

Bromley wrote “William Howard Taft & the First Motoring Presidency, 1909-1913,” a study of the Taft presidency and it’s unique contribution to the development of the automobile.

Bromley was featured in the HVA short documentary on the Taft auto, “THIS CAR MATTERS: President Taft’s 1909 White Steam Car. Bromley also spoke at the HVA luncheon at the Willard Hotel, telling the audience about Taft’s love for automobiles and how he championed their use by all Americans and not just for the wealthy.

The Washington Nationals baseball team kindly invited the HVA and its honorary guests for a pregame ceremony featuring the Taft presidential mascot on April 14, a day that marks the first presidential “first pitch” by a President, from 1910.  As Bromley noted in his speech, “Taft’s endorsement of professional baseball led to exponential growth in the game’s popularity.”

Media:

The National's Taft president mascot greets Taft biographer Michael Bromley in front of the first presidential automobile on display on the National Mall April 14-20, 2016.
The National’s Taft president mascot greets Taft biographer Michael Bromley in front of the first presidential automobile on display on the National Mall April 14-20, 2016 (Courtesy Historic Vehicle Association)
1909 White Model "M" Steam Car used by President Taft in its "jewel box" on display on the National Mall
1909 White Model “M” Steam Car used by President Taft in its “jewel box” on display on the National Mall
The car in its lit 'jewel box" on display on National Mall at night.
The car in its lit ‘jewel box” on display on National Mall at night.
Soldiers from the White House Transportation Agency, a unit created by President William Howard Taft in 1910, pose in front of the first official White House automobile
Soldiers from the White House Transportation Agency, a unit created by President William Howard Taft in 1910, pose in front of the first official White House automobile
Presidential Seal on the 1909 White Model "M" Steamer
Presidential Seal on the 1909 White Model “M” Steamer
Michael Bromley speaking at the Historic Vehicle Association banquet at the Willard Hotel on Taft's contribution to the creation of the "Motor Age."
Michael Bromley speaking at the Historic Vehicle Association banquet at the Willard Hotel on Taft’s contribution to the creation of the “Motor Age.”
William Howard Taft was the first President to patronize professional baseball. Here is joins the Washington Senators on May 14, 1910, a day that marked the first “presidential fist pitch” by Taft.
The Nationals baseball team and the Taft presidential mascot joined the celebration on the ball field
The Nationals baseball team and the Taft presidential mascot joined the celebration on the ball field
Taft biographer Michael Bromley dancing with the National's Taft mascot
Taft biographer Michael Bromley dancing with the National’s Taft mascot

 

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