The Petticoat Affair: Manners, Mutiny and Sex in Andrew Jackson's White House Book

President Andrew Jackson's first administration was a difficult one marked by such controversial topics as Indian removal, the rechartering of the Bank of the United States, a tariff crisis, and nullification. But also occupying much of Jackson's attention in his first administration was a social scandal involving Margaret "Peggy" Eaton, the wife of Jackson's Secretary of War. Because of Jackson's life experiences and because Jackson viewed women as defenseless, he was always quick to defend the honor of women. So when Peggy Eaton, who was viewed as a loose woman by Washington society--she was outspoken and opinionated, her first husband died under questionable circumstances, and she worked in the tavern that her innkeeper family ran--was snubbed by the wives of most government officials, Jackson quickly rose to her defense. Peggy viewed the situation as being the result of envy and jealousy, but President Jackson felt it was a conspiracy aimed at casting judgment on his choice Cabinet officials and as an attempt to cripple his administration. Before the scandal was over, Jackson's entire Cabinet resigned, challenges to duels were issued, the presidential hopes of John C. Calhoun were destroyed, and Martin van Buren's political star was in the ascendency. An enjoyable read demonstrating that the contemporary scandals embroiling politics and political figures are just the latest in a long line.