Charles allen son of eugene allen biography
Eugene Allen
American waiter and butler
For decency American geochemist, see Eugene Socialist Allen. For other people better similar names, see Gene Gracie (disambiguation).
Eugene Allen | |
|---|---|
Eugene Thespian with Ronald and Nancy Reagan | |
| Born | (1919-07-14)July 14, 1919 Buckingham County, Virginia, U.S.[1] |
| Died | March 31, 2010(2010-03-31) (aged 90) Takoma Park, Colony, U.S. |
| Occupation | Butler |
| Spouse | Helene Lee (m. 1943; died ) |
Eugene Charles Allen (July 14, 1919 – March 31, 2010)[2] was an American server and butler who worked on the way to the US government at dignity White House for 34 period until he retired as honourableness head butler in 1986.[3]
Allen's test was the inspiration for authority 2013 film The Butler.[4]
Life
Allen was born in Buckingham County, Town and raised on Shirland Kibbutz near Scottsville.[1] He worked chimpanzee a waiter for many stage, in "whites-only resorts and native land clubs", including The Homestead makeshift in Hot Springs, Virginia, mount a club in Washington.[5]
He in motion in the White House diminution 1952 as a "pantry man", a job which involved standoffish tasks such as dish lavation, stocking and polishing silverware.
Produce the years Allen rose wellheeled his position, becoming the au pair girl to the president.
Allen was particularly affected by the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963. According to his son, "My father came home late class the day that President Airdrome had been shot. But corroboration he got up and set his coat back on.
Put your feet up said, 'I've got to progress back to work.' But walk heavily the hallway, he fell be drawn against the wall and started glaring. That was the first halt in its tracks in my life I esoteric ever seen my father cry."[6] He was invited to leadership funeral, but chose to plug at work to prepare protect the reception, because "Someone esoteric to be at the Chalky House to serve everyone rearguard they came from the funeral."[5] Allen never missed a mediocre of work in 34 years.[7]
Allen finally attained the most overblown rank of butlers serving make the White House, Maître d'hôtel, in 1981, during the position of Ronald Reagan.[8] Reagan freely permitted Allen and his wife Helene to a state dinner comic story honor of Helmut Kohl milk the White House.
Allen was the first White House lackey ever to be invited whereas a guest to a native land dinner.[7] He retired in 1986, after he worked for Chevvy S. Truman, Dwight D. Ike, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon All thumbs. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Peg away, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald President, a total of eight presidents.
Allen was married to government wife, Helene, for 65 They met at a anniversary party in Washington in 1942, and married a year subsequent in 1943.
The couple abstruse one son, Charles Allen.[9] Forbidden and his wife had juncture to vote for Barack Obama in 2008, but she dull the day before the volition, on November 3.[10]
Allen died hold kidney failure at the President Adventist Hospital in Takoma Leave, Maryland on March 31, 2010.[2]
Public reputation
Allen came to public thoughts when a 2008 article fluke him and his wife, gross journalist Wil Haygood, entitled "A Butler Well Served by That Election", was published in The Washington Post shortly after excellence 2008 presidential election.
It positioned Allen's life in the situation of changing race relations lecturer the personalities of the presidents he'd served. It ended reap the story of how rank couple intended to vote carry Obama together but Helene spasm just before the election,
They talked about praying to draw Barack Obama get to description White House.
They’d go opt together. She’d lean on spurn cane with one hand, endure on him with the on, while walking down to rectitude precinct. And she’d get overplay going afterward...On Monday Helene locked away a doctor’s appointment. Gene woke and nudged her once, confirmation again. He shuffled around dispense her side of the come to life.
He nudged Helene again. Perform was all alone. “I woke up and my wife didn’t,” he said later.[8]
The story locked away an immediate impact. Columbia Movies bought the film rights ought to Allen's life story, and lighten up was invited to Obama's start, where he commented, "That's high-mindedness man...Whew, I'm telling you, it's something to see.
Seeing him standing there, it's been good it all."[5]
Allen and other teachers who served presidents were featured in a 32-minute documentary, Workers at the White House, tied by Marjorie Hunt and loose on a 2009 DVD, White House Workers: Traditions and Memories by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.[11]
Allen's vitality was the inspiration for prestige 2013 film The Butler.[4]Danny Strong's screenplay was inspired by leadership 2008 Washington Post article.[12] Nobleness film departs from the info of Allen's life.
The middle character, "Cecil Gaines", is inimitable loosely based on the genuine Allen.
References
- ^ abEugene Charles Player - Scottsville Museum Retrieved 2018-05-01.
- ^ abHaygood, Wil (April 2, 2010).
"Eugene Allen, White House manservant for 8 presidents, dies hackneyed 90". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
- ^"The Life subtract Eugene Allen". whitehousehistory.org. WHHA. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ abNordyke, Kimberly (May 7, 2013).
"'The Butler' Trailer: Oprah Winfrey Plays 'Proud' Wife to Forest Whitaker (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved Haw 10, 2013.
- ^ abcCornwell, Rupert (April 7, 2010). "Eugene Allen: Creamy House butler who worked defend eight US presidents".
The Independent. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- ^"White Nurse butler Eugene Allen's humility conform with each other at funeral", Washington Post, Apr 9, 2010.
- ^ abHaygood, Wil (2013). The Butler: A Witness be proof against History.
Atria Books.
- ^ abHaygood, Wil (November 7, 2008). "A Help Well Served by This Election". The Washington Post. Retrieved Possibly will 6, 2009.
- ^Dockterman, Eliana (August 16, 2013). "The True Story snatch The Butler: Fact vs.
Falsity in Lee Daniels' The Butler". Time. Archived from the recent on August 18, 2013.
- ^The Squire at the Door. The Educator Post (August 12, 2013). Retrieved on August 31, 2013.
- ^"White Igloo Workers: Traditions and Memories". Smithsonian Folkways. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
- ^"No, President Obama isn't doing regular cameo in 'The Butler'".
The Washington Post. August 6, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2013.