The Eaton Affair

The Peggy Eaton scandal was one of the most shaking and dramatic social events of the Andrew Jackson presidential administration. Peggy O’Neill Timberlake Eaton was the wife of Secretary of War John Eaton. Peggy Eaton was accused of adultery, and snubbed by all of the other cabinet wives in Andrew Jackson’s cabinet. President Andrew Jackson decided he had to defend Peggy Eaton’s honor, because Peggy Eaton reminded Andrew Jackson of his own wife Rachel. Rachel Jackson was married to a man who did not have a good relationship with her, so Rachel devoiced him and married Andrew Jackson. The divorce was not finalized correctly so Rachel’s ex-husband sued for adultery. In the intense 1828 election, Rachel’s so called “adultery” became a huge issue. Rachel Jackson was very sensitive, and upon reading a pamphlet accusing her of adultery Rachel Jackson suffered a heart attack and died. Andrew Jackson was very outraged, and took it as his own responsibility to defend the honor of women. When Andrew Jackson saw Peggy Eaton being snubbed Andrew decided to defend Peggy’s honor as well.  In Margaret Coit’s book “John C. Calhoun: American Portrait” Vice President John C. Calhoun brushes this whole Peggy Eaton scenario off as a silly women’s game. Calhoun was wrong, analyzing this from history shows the social schemes of Washington do effect policy. Andrew Jackson forced most of his cabinet to resign over the Peggy Eaton affair. This may have been silly business as John C. Calhoun would have said, but it did effect the atmosphere of Washington, DC.  Not only is this a story of the past- but the Peggy Eaton story can be applied to present also. Our actions are being watched by the world, they want to see what we are doing and they will try to watch us stumble. We may be thinking what John C. Calhoun was thinking that “this is silly business having people judge us by rumors” but it is sadly true. We must always be lights to the world.  God calls us to be salt and light to the lost, this does not mean to ignore and shun those who are sinners like Peggy Eaton was- but instead we should minister and reach out to the Peggy Eatons of the world and show them Christ’s love.