Presidential Firsts

This week marks the anniversary of two Presidential Firsts.

August 22, 1905 marks the day when President Theodore Roosevelt became the first President to ride in an automobile. In fact he was also the first President to purchase his own car. Being an avid horseman, he never understood why cars didn’t avoid holes in the road as his horses did. He first car lasted but a year. He took his mechanic, Frederick Gear, with him to buy his second car. His driving was so poor that eventually his wife Edith forbid him to get behind the wheel.

August 26, 1905 marks the day when TR became the first President to go underwater in a submarine, the USS Plunger. Keep in mind that submarines in 1905 were a far cry from the nuclear powered vessels of today. They were very dangerous and unreliable, and many sailors were afraid to volunteer for submarine duty. Read a fascinating article about Teddy’s harrowing submarine trip – http://www.teddyleads.com/articles.asp.

TR was also the first President to:

• Fly in an aeroplane, in 1910 in St. Louis. Arch Hoxsey was the pilot. Hoxsey died in a plane crash less than a year later.
• Travel outside the US while President. He sailed to Panama on the battleship USS Louisiana to oversee construction of the Panama Canal.
• Have a telephone in his home, Sagamore Hill, in Oyster Bay, New York.
• Invite an African-American to dinner at the White House - Booker T. Washington. He was severly criticized for this audacious act.

TR was not afraid of change. He embraced change and new technology. He led change.

How do you respond to change?
Do you resist change?
Do you fear change?
Do you complain about change?
Or do you embrace change, as Theodore Roosevelt did?

Read the series of Teddy's Tips on Leadership articles. Go to http://www.TeddyLeads.com/articles.asp

David brings Teddy Back to Life as a Keynote speaker for corporations, associations, academia, military, and other organizations. www.TeddyLeads.com

Contact David at Teddy@TeddyLeads.com or at 714-289-1233.