Author and Associate Producer of Lee Daniel's THE BUTLER, Wil Haygood, Scheduling Speaking Engagements through American Program Bureau.

NEWTON, Mass., Aug. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Coinciding with the release of his new book The Butler and major motion picture of the same name, acclaimed Washington Post reporter and best-selling author Wil Haygood is scheduling speaking engagements exclusively through American Program Bureau.

Fully entitled The Butler: A Witness to History, Haygood's book chronicles the true-life experiences of Eugene Allen, a White House butler for 34 years, and his first-hand witnessing of history throughout the tenures of eight US presidents. Born on a southern plantation in 1919, Mr. Allen's experiences, from the difficulties of growing up during segregation to serving some of the world's most powerful men, offers an enlightening perspective of the events and people who helped shape our world. It offers a unique view of the United States' civil rights struggles as seen from someone inside the White House serving the very people responsible for deciding the future course of our country. The book was published on August 1st by Simon & Schuster.

In tandem with the book's release, Weinstein Company will release the major motion picture tied to the book on August 16th. Titled Lee Daniels' THE BUTLER, the film stars Oprah Winfrey, Forest Whitaker, Jane Fonda, Vanessa Redgrave, Robin Williams and Cuba Gooding Jr. Haygood served as an associate producer on the film, which marks Winfrey's first return to the big screen in a starring role since 1998's Beloved.

In addition to The Butler, Haygood has authored five other nonfiction books, including his critically acclaimed trilogy on 20th century icons Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Sugar Ray Robinson and Sammy Davis, Jr. For 17 years, Haygood was a national and foreign correspondent for The Boston Globe, where he was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist. Since 2002, Haygood has been a national writer for The Washington Post.

Haygood's illustrious career, covering both domestic and global issues, makes him a strong authority on the topics of diversity, civil rights, social change, and national and international affairs. His dynamic, engaging presentations have made him an in demand speaker at colleges and other educational institutions, professional and community organizations, and other forums seeking a powerful speaker who can deliver a potent message.

"From his experiences covering world events to his authoritative insight on how the human spirit can persevere despite overwhelming odds, Wil Haygood brings acclaim for those who have given much, but are little noticed," says Robert Walker, CEO of American Program Bureau. "We are honored to be the exclusive representative for Mr. Haygood's worldwide speaking engagements."

Organizations wishing to book Mr. Haygood should contact American Program Bureau at 1-617-614-1600 for information on available dates, rates and program topics.  For more information on American Program Bureau, please visit www.apbspeakers.com. For a profile on Wil Haygood, please visit www.apbspeakers.com/speaker/wil-haygood.

About American Program Bureau

Founded in 1965, American Program Bureau's (APB) original mission was to provide a forum for the nation's civil rights leaders to achieve a greater voice. As a trailblazing herald of equality, APB represented many key figures during the civil rights movement, including Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Dick Gregory, Julian Bond and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Since that time, APB has grown to become the global leader in the professional speaking industry, representing over 1,800 speakers and serving thousands of clients worldwide. Today, APB represents the pinnacle of thought leaders across the realms of government, business, technology, science, health and entertainment, including Mikhail Gorbachev, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Richard Branson, Michael Douglas and many others.

Contact:  Jack Freeman, 1-617-614-1646

SOURCE American Program Bureau