The White House Butler Movie: Fact vs. Fiction

Lee Daniels' 'The Butler' has been packing auditoriums for weeks, and it's easy to see why. The film tells the story of Cecil Gaines, a White House butler who served eight presidents from 1952 to 1986. But how accurate is this portrayal? Not very, according to some critics.

Michael Reagan, the former president Ronald Reagan's son, recently penned a column for Newsmax called 'The Butler from Another Planet.' In it, he takes issue with the film's depiction of his father and his family. Reagan writes that the movie insinuates a racist streak in his father that simply isn't true.

But 'The Butler' is not just about Ronald Reagan. The film also tells the story of Eugene Allen, the real-life White House butler who served eight presidents. So what's fact and what's fiction?

In the column, Michael Reagan asks readers to compare the real Cecil Gaines to Hollywood's version. He writes that Allen was a quiet man who lived a happy life with his wife for 65 years. He also had one son who served honorably in Vietnam without ever speaking out about the civil rights movement.

But that's not the way it goes down in the movie. In 'The Butler,' Cecil Gaines is portrayed as a complex character with a troubled past and a family torn apart by racism. His wife, Gloria, is played by Oprah Winfrey and is depicted as a strong and independent woman who stands up for her husband despite the challenges they face.

One of the biggest criticisms of the film is its portrayal of Ronald Reagan. The movie suggests that he was a racist who didn't care about the civil rights movement, which his son and others vehemently object to. But Michael Reagan writes that this simply isn't true.

The film also gives Cecil Gaines a second son who is a civil rights activist, but in real life, there is no record of Allen having a second son. Much of the film has been fictionalized, including Gaines' name (which was changed from Eugene Allen) and his childhood background.

Despite these inaccuracies, 'The Butler' has been praised for its powerful portrayal of African American history and culture. The film's message about the importance of dignity and respect is one that resonates with audiences.

So what's the truth? Michael Reagan writes that he met and knew the real Cecil Gaines, and he says that the movie gets it all wrong. But Allen's son, Charles, has said that his father was a private man who didn't like to talk about his experiences in the White House.

Ultimately, 'The Butler' is a work of fiction based on the life of Eugene Allen. While some of the events and characters may be fictionalized, the film's message about the importance of dignity and respect is one that resonates with audiences.

In conclusion, while there are certainly inaccuracies in 'The Butler,' the film has been praised for its powerful portrayal of African American history and culture. The real Cecil Gaines may not have been as complex or troubled as his Hollywood counterpart, but he was a man who served eight presidents with dignity and respect. And that's a story worth telling.

White house butler movie