White House cook sues after threats arise over his interracial marriage - assistant cook Sean T. Haddon - Brief Article

Jet, July 12, 1993

If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen.

That's exactly what White House assistant cook Sean T. Haddon, who is White, alleges White supervisors advised him to do after he complained of racial discrimination which he believes was the direct result of his marriage to a Black woman.

But instead of quitting, Haddon recently filed a civil lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., seeking a promotion that he was previously denied, attorney's fees, and expungement of a mediocre performance evaluation which he believes was in retaliation for bringing an Equal Employment Opportunity complaint.

"I'm very disappointed that it had to go this far but no one was listening to me," said Haddon, who had previously been rated as an exemplary employee.

Haddon's attorney, Rodney R. Sweetland III, said his client's downward spiral at the White House began last year when Haddon told co-workers of his engagement to a Black woman. "He was warned that the powers that be (in the White House) did not agree with interracial relationships," said Sweetland.

Haddon's lawsuit alleges that following his marriage he was passed over for promotion to sous chef, subjected to threats of physical harm, and eventually falsely accused of threatening the first family.