The Hofstra Chronicle: February 27th, 2014 Issue2:27 issue

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The Hofstra

HEMPSTEAD, NY VOL. 79

Issue 17

Chronicle

THURSDAY february 27, 2014

KEEPING THE HOFSTRA COMMUNITY INFORMED SINCE 1935

“The only successful journalists are the ones that are willing to work hard.”

Photo courtesy of University Relations Wil Haygood spoke to Hofstra students about the story chronicled by the Oscar-nominated film, The Butler.

Wil Haygood shares award-winning story By Nico Machlitt staff writer

Eugene Allen was a White House butler who served for eight presidents from Truman to Reagan. The Washington Post published “A Butler Well Served by This Election” on Nov. 7, 2008. The well-received article landed in publications like The Los Angeles Times, and was also made into a novel. Wil Haygood is the author of

“A Butler: A Witness to History.” Haygood spoke to Hofstra students Wednesday, Feb. 26, about his journalistic process behind what uncovered the story of the 2013 award-winning movie “The Butler,” directed by Lee Daniels. Athelene Collins, director of the Hofstra Cultural Center, said she felt that it was very important for Haygood to come and share his story. “Him telling the story about Eugene Allen is very important

because it is something that you would not generally know,” said Collins. “To work for eight presidents, and then still be alive when the first African-American president [is in office], is amazing.” Tatiana Brown, junior and vice president of Hofstra University’s Association of Black Journalists, was among the crowd of students that came to hear Haygood. “The only successful journalists are the ones that are willing to work hard and look for stories that

nobody has found,” said Brown. Haygood was on the 2008 campaign trail, reporting on then-Senator Barack Obama and his race to the presidency. After seeing all the reactions from people at the events, Haygood wanted to contact an African American who worked in the White House before the Civil Rights Movement. Upon hearing about a man who served under three presidents, Haygood called all the Eugene Allens’ in the D.C. area.

On the 57th phone call, Allen, the butler, answered. Allen corrected Haygood, saying that he had, in fact served through eight presidential terms. When Allen first came to the White House in 1952, he started as a pantry man that washed

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