Charles Jasper Glidden was an American telephone pioneer, financier and supporter of the automobile in the United States. Charles Glidden, with his wife Lucy, were the first to circle the world in an automobile, and repeated the feat in 1908.

The Glidden Tours, also known as the National Reliability Runs, were promotional events held during the automotive Brass Era by the American Automobile Association (AAA) and organized by the group's chairman, Augustus Post. The AAA, a proponent of safer roads, acceptance of the automobile, and automotive-friendly legislation, started the tour to promote public acceptance and bring awareness of their goals.