Welcome to the Peggy Eaton Affair! (1829-1831)

Margaret O'Neale is commonly known as Peggy Eaton. She was the daughter of an Irish tavern owner. While being raised in a boarding house that was populated with politicians, she became a wise observer of politics. In 1816, Peggy married her first husband. His name was John B. Timberlake. He was a member of the United States Navy. The Timberlake couple were friends with Senator John Henry Eaton. At the age of 23 years old Peggy found herself a widow. Her first husband died of an unexpected death while out on duty with the U.S Navy. There were many rumors that he committed suicide due to affairs between Peggy and Eaton. These rumors were denied. Not long after her husband died she remarried to John Henry Eaton. In 1829, just three months after they were pronounced husband and wife, he was selected as President Jackson's secretary of war. Jackson was empathetic towards their situation due to the malicious gossip about his own wife. Jackson's wife had not finalized her divorce in her previous marriage before getting married to President Jackson. It was now Peggy Eaton's time to be the spotlight of the cruel gossip. The vice president's wife condemned Peggy Eaton for her inferior morals. She deliberately snubbed her, and the rest of the cabinet wives followed. Jackson was recommended not to make Eaton his secretary of war because of Peggy's reputation. He was outraged by the suggestion and blamed the ladies of Washington for the drama and uproar in the cabinet. This scandal, which was also named the Petticoat Affair, followed Jackson through his first term. Jackson's opponents used this well-known event to attack the president's moral judgement. This was politically damaging to Jackson's reputation and severely altered his opportunity to be re-elected in the upcoming president election. In response to the negativity in the cabinet, in 1831 Eaton and Van Buren resigned in order to give Jackson the chance to protect his presidency from further scandal.