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Taft was the first sitting President to use automobiles regularly. And he was nearly the first
President killed in a car accident. In March 1910 Taft's car was struck by a trolley in New
York City and carried a half-block down Eighth Avenue. No one was hurt, but the President was
shaken
1a.
Taft had several other mishaps in cars and trains during his public life
SEE BELOW.
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Taft's near misses were reported in the newspapers on the dates noted below
1b:
Taft achieved more dubious vehicular firsts while President. In September 1909 his car (with him as passenger) was caught in a speed trap in Newbury, MA, on a stretch of road where the speed limit had been recently reduced from 20mph to 8mph. He was apparently able to talk his way out of the ticket, once the police realized his identity 1c. In 1921 Taft badly bruised his knees when his car skidded on a rainy Washington road 2a. |
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a p.183 b pp.182-183 c p.200
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a p.326
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