Eugene Allen, White House Butler, Dies at 90

[FourScore]

Source: AP

Eugene Allen, who endured a harsh and segregated upbringing in his native Virginia and went on to work for eight presidents as a White House butler, died March 31 of renal failure at Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park. He was 90.

Mr. Allen and his wife, Helene, were profiled in a Washington Post story in 2008 that explored the history of blacks in the White House. The couple were excited about the possibility of Barack Obama's historic election and their opportunity to vote for him. Helene, however, died on the eve of the election, and Mr. Allen went to vote alone. The couple had been married for 65 years.

Afterward, Mr. Allen, who had been living quietly in a simple house off Georgia Avenue NW in the District, experienced a fame that he had only witnessed beforehand. He received a VIP invitation to Obama's swearing-in, where a Marine guard escorted him to his seat. Eyes watering, he watched the first black man take the oath of office of the presidency.

SNIP

...Mr. Allen was in the White House when Dwight D. Eisenhower dealt with the Little Rock desegregation crisis. Eisenhower once asked him about the cancellation of Nat "King" Cole's TV show, which the president enjoyed. Mr. Allen told him that the show had difficulty attracting advertisers, who were worried about white Southern audiences boycotting their products...



Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/04/02/politics/washingtonpost/main6358028.shtml

[LakeSamish706]

1. Thank you President Obama for honoring a great and dedicated employee by your

simple gesture. We can be sure that neither GW Bush nor McCain would have done this.

I will add that he obviously lived a great life until he lost his partner and may he RIP.

[jaysunb]

7. In all fairness to G W Bush...

from the article:

Mr. Allen retired in 1986, after having been promoted to maitre d' five years earlier. He possessed a dazzling array of framed photographs with all of the presidents he had served, in addition to gifts and mementos from each of them.

The last item to be framed and placed on Eugene Allen's basement wall was a condolence letter from George W. and Laura Bush. It arrived from the White House just after the death of Helene.

Maybe Laura or the staff were responsible,but he has to get his due.
( people are always thanking ME for nice gestures made by my wife. :) )

[Tx4obama]

12. And also....

some more interesting tidbits but have nothing to do with the Bushes...


Mr. Allen traveled to Romania with President Richard Nixon, and had a seat at the table as a guest at one of Reagan's state dinners.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/white_house_butler_to_presidents_jP6pFL2LpPjlfpKJFsUPoK#ixzz0k0arPjdH


Mr. Allen sipped root beer at Camp David with Jimmy Carter and visited Eisenhower in Gettysburg after he left the White House.
SNIP
When John F. Kennedy was assassinated, Mr. Allen was invited to the funeral. He declined for the most generous of reasons: "Somebody had to be at the White House to serve everyone after they came from the funeral," he told The Post. When first lady Jackie Kennedy returned to the White House afterward, she gave him one of the president's ties. Mr. Allen had it framed.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/01/AR2010040103444.html

[Grassy Knoll]

2. I can't imagine 90, great life, great service . RIP.

[Barack_America]

3. Happy to K&R for a great man.

And I do mean "great" in the true sense of the word.

[Window]

14. Yes, indeed.

RIP dear man.

[Tx4obama]

4. Here's a link to the 2008 Washington Post article regarding Mr. Allen

I read this back in 2008 when it first came out...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/06/AR2008110603948.html

[superconnected]

5. Godspeed Mr. Allen.

I really enjoyed this link

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/01/AR2010040103444.html?g=0

where if you click on his photo, it launches a slide show where it's in his own words talking through it.

[goclark]

6. There is anothe link here on Mr. Allen

[Faygo Kid]

8. Thank you, Mr. Allen. Married 65 years. Fortunate man.

Match that, tea partiers.

[Lithos]

9. Thank you Mr. Allen

I am glad you got to see better times.

L-

[Tx4obama]

10. MSNBC.com video clip announcing the passing of Mr. Allen - link below

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/eugene-allen-longtime-white-house-butler-dies/6muhn52

[alp227]

11. Died on March 31...why'd we just find out now? But still sad.

At least he got to see the first-ever black president get inaugurated. I wonder how many black Americans got to live the historical experience from the segregation era to Civil Rights Movement to Obama's inauguration. I also commend Allen for his hard work in the White House all these years. On today's NBC Nightly News, I first learned of this through a short clip show narrated by Brian Williams.

[janedum]

18. Ewwwww! I LOVE that bumper sticker! Nice! Send it to the Whitehouse.

[Posteritatis]

21. This made the news at the time, too

There was a thread here a few days ago, anyway.

[SeattleGirl]

13. I'm so glad that he got to see Obama elected before he died.

Rest in peace, Mr. Allen.

[tango-tee]

15. RIP, Mr. Allen.

The stories he could have told... history in the making.

It is people like Mr. Allen in their "humble" jobs who can really enlighten the rest of us. Can you imagine the snippets of confidential conversation he was privy to? Oh, how much I would have enjoyed talking to that man.

[BumRushDaShow]

16. R.I.P.

I think I saw him on one of the CSPAN specials that featured the different departments/staff of the White House. I am glad that he got to witness and be a part of history. He surely waited long enough to see this important change occur and I am sure he was filled with pride at reaching the mountain top.

R.I.P. Mr. Allen. O8)

[mod mom]

17. He received a VIP invitation to Obama's swearing-in, where a Marine guard escorted him to his seat.

class act, Mr President. RIP Mr allen.

[Fire1]

19. Rest in peace and thank you, Mr. Allen. n/t

[Omaha Steve]

20. "Backstaris at the White House"

I checked. Nobody played him in the mini series.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078565/

Excellent show worth renting or buying. K&R BTW.

[Libertas1776]

22. RIP honorable good sir n/t