Famed Butler’s Son to Speak at Southwest Library

D.C. Public Library will host the son of a famed presidential butler tonight as part of its summer reading program at its Southwest location on 900 Wesley Place near the Waterfront Metro.

The speaker, Charles Allen, is the son of Eugene Allen, for which Wil Haygood’s book, The Butler: A Witness to History, portrays. The novel also inspired a film version.

His presentation, which includes first-hand witness to his father’s life and Q&A session, begins at 7 p.m.

Allen’s father, portrayed in the film by actor Forest Whitaker as the character Cecil Gaines, began serving presidents at the White House in the ’50s and continued through the ’80s.

Charles Allen will also speak at West End and Northwest Neighborhood Libraries later this month.