Michael owens. How did this change america . This was the first time that a convoy, an official convoy had driven all the way across country and it attracted attention all across the route. Thousands of people came out to look at the vehicles, to talk to the men who were in the convoy and spurred interest for motor si ized vehicles. Did it get a lot of attention in the press . It did get a lot of attention. They had a major sendoff at the white house. President wilson was in europe at the time, but secretary of war newton baker waved them off. There were speeches, the press was all there. There was really quite a scene at the white house before they took off to drive through the district, through maryland to frederick, maryland, where they spent the first night. You explained how it changed america, but walk us through the genesis of this idea and why 80 vehicles as part of this convoy. You have to look at it in the context of the time. World war i had just concluded a few months earli