This is a great behind-the-scenes story. Francis H. Robinson was a White House chauffeur who drove six presidents, from Taft to Franklin Roosevelt. He arrived in Washington in 1910. Originally from Massachusetts and born around 1876, he had been driving vehicles for about two decades when Taft came calling.
The original chauffeur, George Robinson, was dismissed at the request of the President in July 1910, and Francis stepped in as his replacement. Abel Long became the head chauffeur, having come to the White House on a strong recommendation from the Pierce-Arrow company.
Long became sick in June of 1911, and Francis was promoted to head chauffeur. He pushed for a raise to match the promotion, but he was blocked by Taft’s aide, Archibald Butt (the man who tragically went down with the Titanic ten months later). He had to accept the $125 a month salary.
Robinson, or “Robby” as he was known to his colleagues, witnessed an incredible amount of history, serving as official chauffeur for six presidents. Arriving with the first automobile during Taft’s administration, he continued to serve under Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover and Roosevelt.
Well over two decades behind the wheel, he also drove countless kings, queens, and dignitaries during their visits to Washington. He was so well admired that King Albert of Belgium gave Robinson a military ribbon for his service, presenting the medal personally to thank Francis during the King’s 1919 visit to the city.
In the 1920 U.S. Census, Robby was listed as living at 1812 G St. NW with his wife Annie, his occupation recorded as “Chauffeur, Executive Mansion.” By the early 1930s, his address was listed as 733 22nd St. NW.
Here’s a great shot of Robinson driving President and Mrs. Wilson.
The history of the automobile at the White House is an interesting one. The car came of age and became a reliable mode of transportation at the turn of the century, during Teddy Roosevelt’s administration. Roosevelt, though, preferred the rougher, 19th-century way of getting around, riding his own horse through Washington and the countryside. On occasion he would borrow a car to get somewhere quickly, but he never ordered an official White House motor vehicle.
His successor, President Taft, was the first to order an official motor vehicle for the White House, which happened to be steam-powered.
An amusing article in the New York Evening Post on January 7th, 1928 described the driving preferences of each president. Coolidge liked to ride in a closed car, out of the wind, and insisted the driver follow the speed limit strictly. His slow pace irritated the drivers stuck behind him, since the Secret Service would not let trailing vehicles pass the President.
Taft, now a familiar face in the Nationals’ Presidents Race, was a speed demon, always pushing the driver to step on it. He liked to feel the wind in his hair (and mustache), preferring an open car with no windshield.
His successor, Woodrow Wilson, had more sedate taste, riding in a closed car and following most speed limits.
President Harding, on the other hand, was the wildest of them all. He chose the closed car, but no vehicle could go fast enough for his taste.
Here’s a shot of President Taft with Archie Butt, who’s blocking the view of Robinson –
http://blog.nasm.si.edu/highlights-from-the-collection/a-hero-of-the-titanic-in-the-files/
I wonder if this was the limo driver who went to Heurich’s brewery to get some cider on the eve of prohibition…
twenty decades behind the wheel????
This is a terrific site….!