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HISTORY'S
CURRENTS
THE
PEGGY EATON AFFAIR
In
1828, Andrew Jackson, Indian fighter, planter, military
Governor of Florida, and hero of the Battle of New Orleans,
was elected president after failing to obtain that august
office in the election of 1824. His official cabinet was
basically full of political appointments, part of the spoils
system associated with Jackson’s presidency. One of his
appointments was John H. Eaton, the senior Senator from
Tennessee, who became Jackson’s first Secretary of War.
At
this time in our nation’s history, Congress and the government
spent only a few months of the year in the capital city,
Washington, D.C. Many simply took rooms and boarded in private
residences, boarding houses, or taverns that also served
as inns. Peggy Eaton, as she became known in history, was
the daughter of William O'Neale, an Irish immigrant and
owner of a Washington, D. C., boardinghouse and tavern,
the Franklin House on I Street. While still in her teens,
Peggy had reportedly caused a suicide, a duel, and nearly
ruined military career. John Eaton, a widower, was infatuated
with the dark haired beauty although she was married to
John Timberlake, a Navy purser, and Eaton always boarded
at the tavern when he was in the Capital. Senator Eaton
used his influence to make sure that Navy purser Timberlake
spent as much time as possible out at sea, and rumor had
it that he and Peggy were sleeping together even though
she was married. As a result of this illicit liaison and
Peggy’s past history, her reputation in Washington was dubious
at best.
In
1828 Timberlake died at sea, either of disease or drink.
Proper Washingtonians preferred to believe that Timberlake
had cut his throat because of his wife's unfaithfulness.
The death of Timberlake and the romance between Peggy and
Eaton created a big problem for Andrew Jackson. Jackson,
who planned on naming Eaton his secretary of war, insisted
that the Senator first marry Peggy in order to shut up Washington's
scandalmongers. On New Year's Day in 1829, John and Peggy
got married.
However,
the marriage only led to a major conflict in Washington
society and in Jackson’s cabinet. The opposition to Peggy
Eaton was led by Vice President John C. Calhoun's wife,
Floride Calhoun. The wives of the Cabinet members shunned
Peggy Eaton, refusing to even invite her to their dinners.
At formal White House functions, where all were in attendance,
Peggy was totally ostracized, with everyone refusing to
talk to her except Secretary of State Martin Van Buren,
a widower, and the British ambassador, who was a bachelor.
Van Buren tried to ease the situation in society (he was
in charge of doling out Jackson’s political appointments)
and the cabinet but to no avail. For a year, the Jackson
administration stalled over the “Petticoat War” and nothing
was accomplished.
Jackson
felt sorry for John and Peggy Eaton. He remembered his personal
problems, including a duel, concerning his marriage to Rachel.
Rachel Jackson was a divorcee whom he had married prior
to the actual granting of her divorce by the state legislature.
Jackson’s political opponents had used this incident causing
Rachel Jackson, who had died in 1828, great personal torment.
In
the end, the Peggy Eaton affair broke up the Jackson Cabinet
and ultimately drove a wedge between Jackson and Calhoun.
Jackson’s cabinet led by Martin Van Buren, resigned in 1831,
allowing Jackson to appoint a more competent and trustworthy
cabinet. Van Buren became Jackson’s second Vice President
and was elected President in 1836. John Eaton became Military
Governor of Florida. Vice President John C. Calhoun resigned
to take a seat in the Senate and led the South in opposition
to the Tariff of 1828 during the “Nullification Crisis”
of the 1830s.
History’s
currents, or current history? You decide!
Editor’s
note: Due to the Jackson’s appointment of a cabinet as political
payoff, he relied on advice from a “Kitchen Cabinet,” political
friends and advisers from Tennessee that Jackson brought
to Washington and placed in minor government posts.
Finally
on his deathbed Jackson voiced two regrets. 1) He regretted
he had not annexed Texas in 1837, and 2) he regretted that
he had not hanged John C. Calhoun.
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