George Grantham Bain: the President's "White" (1909)

(Library of Congress, Washington D.C., USA)

A vintage photo taken by the American photographer George Grantham Bain (1865 – 1944). This old photo shows the first United States presidential state car: a 40 hp White Model M Steam Car. At the request of president William Howard Taft (1857-1930), three cars were purchased: a 1909 Pierce-Arrow Model 36 brougham, a 1909 Baker electric, and the 1909 White Model M steam car (shown here). The White Model M steam car was the favorite of Taft, it cost about $4,000 (equivalent to about $112,000 in 2018) and could fit 7 passengers and also had a top. The car itself can be seen today at the Heritage Museum in Sandwich, MA. Photo from 1909.