President Jackson appoints John Eaton as secretary of war and starts scandal
On March 27 1829 President Andrew Jackson defies Washington society matrons and appoints scandal-plagued John Eaton as his secretary of war.Earlier that year Eaton had married a former tavern maid with a supposedly lurid past.Margaret Peggy Eaton had been raised in a boardinghouse frequented by Washington politicians and became an astute observer of politics as well as an accomplished musician and dancer.She charmed many of the boardinghouses tenants including then-Senator Andrew Jackson and his friend John Eaton and was suspected of having many illicit affairs before her first marriage.
She was 23 and the wife of a Navy sailor when she first met Jackson and Eaton.Eaton enjoyed Margarets wit and intelligence and escorted her to social functions when her husband was at sea.When Margarets first husband died unexpectedly rumors abounded that he had committed suicide over his wifes alleged affair with Eaton.Both Eaton and Margaret denied the affair claiming to be nothing more than friends.
In addition to Margarets sullied reputation her passionate nature flirtatiousness and outspokenness irked Washingtons society matrons at a time when those qualities were considered unseemly in women.When Eaton and Margaret married shortly after her first husbands death the ladies of Washington society ostracized the new couple.READ MORE How Andrew Jackson Rode a Populist Wave to Become Americas First Outsider PresidentJackson sympathized with and supported his friend Eaton.Jacksons late wife Rachelwhom he had unwittingly married before her divorce from her first husband was finalhad also been the victim of social gossip when she first came to Washington.
When someone advised Jackson against making Eaton his secretary of war because of Margarets reputation Jackson barked do you suppose that I have been sent here by the people to consult the ladies of Washington as to the proper persons to compose my cabinet Secretary of State Martin Van Buren also sided with Eaton.It was Vice President John Calhouns wife who led Washingtons elite in snubbing the Eatons at social gatherings.For the rest of Jacksons first term his opponents used the Eaton Affair or Petticoat Affair as it was known to attack the presidents moral judgment and by extension his administrations policies and appointees.By 1831 the Eaton Affair had proved immensely divisive and politically damaging to Jackson.
In response Eaton and Van Buren resigned in order to give Jackson the opportunity to overhaul his cabinet with new members and protect his presidency from further scandal.
