Final answer:
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first President to use an armored limousine, an upgrade necessitated by security concerns during his presidency. The first armored vehicle used was a car previously owned by the gangster Al Capone, which had been seized by the Treasury Department.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first President to use an armored limousine was Franklin D. Roosevelt. The use of an armored vehicle became necessary due to the heightened security concerns during his presidency in the 1930s and 1940s.
It was during World War II that the Secret Service decided that President Roosevelt needed a safer vehicle, as the standard vehicles of that time period were not deemed secure enough. Interestingly, the armored car that was first used for presidential protection was not originally designed for that purpose.
Instead, it was a car that had once belonged to the notorious gangster Al Capone. When Capone was sent to prison, the Treasury Department seized his bulletproof vehicle.
During a visit to Chicago, President Roosevelt needed secure transportation, and the Secret Service felt that Capone's vehicle was a suitable option because of its already existing modifications for safety, including bulletproof glass and armor plating.
Subsequent presidents continued to use armored limousines, with the technology and security features evolving over the years to provide greater protection for the nation's leaders.