Eugene Allen

Eugene Allen
Eugene Allen with Ronald and Nancy Reagan
Born	(1919-07-14)July 14, 1919 Scottsville, Virginia, U.S.
Died	March 31, 2010(2010-03-31) (aged 90) Takoma Park, Maryland, U.S.
Cause of death	Renal failure
Nationality	American
Occupation	US Government Butler
Spouse(s)	Helene Lee (m. 1943; d. 2008)

Eugene Allen (July 14, 1919 – March 31, 2010) was an American waiter and butler who worked for the US government at the White House for 34 years until he retired as the head butler in 1986.

Allen's life was the inspiration for the 2013 film The Butler.

Allen was born in Scottsville, Virginia. He worked as a waiter for many years, in "whites-only resorts and country clubs", including The Homestead resort in Hot Springs, Virginia, and a club in Washington.

He started in the White House in 1952 as a "pantry man", a job which involved basic tasks such as dish washing, stocking and cleaning silverware. Over the years Allen rose in his position, becoming the butler to the president.

Allen was particularly affected by the death of President Kennedy in 1963. According to his son, "My father came home late on the day that President Kennedy had been shot. But then he got up and put his coat back on. He said, 'I've got to go back to work.' But in the hallway, he fell against the wall and started crying. That was the first time in my life I had ever seen my father cry." He was invited to the funeral, but chose to stay at work to prepare for the reception, because "Someone had to be at the White House to serve everyone after they came from the funeral."

Allen finally attained the most prestigious rank of butlers serving in the White House, Maître d'hôtel, in 1981, during the presidency of Ronald Reagan. Reagan invited Allen and his wife Helene to a state dinner in honor of Helmut Kohl at the White House. He retired in 1986.

Allen had been married to his wife, Helene, for 65 years. They met at a birthday party in Washington in 1942, and married a year later in 1943. The couple had one son, Charles Allen. He and his wife had intended to vote for Barack Obama in 2008, but she died the day before the election, on November 3.

Eugene Allen died at the Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park, Maryland on March 31, 2010; his death was caused by kidney failure.