Some aspects of the movie conflicted with the real life happenings of Eugene Allen; the inspiration for the character Cecil Gaines. In the movie, Gaines was caught stealing cake from a hotel, got hired as a waiter at the same hotel and later impressed a White House administrator who happened to be there. In real life, Allen just applied for the job and got it. Gaines' sons were depicted as one having died in Vietnam and the other joining the Black Panthers. In real life, Allen's son who went to Vietnam survived and went on to work for the State Department. The affair by his alcoholic wife was also made up for the movie.