The Petticoat Affair: Peggy O'Neill's Impact On The US Cabinet

Many women in the early to mid-1800s hardly had any voice in society, much less a role in government politics. Margaret "Peggy" O'Neill, wife of Secretary of War John Henry Eaton, defied this standard. Within a few years of being Eaton's wife, she singlehandedly changed the face of the US Cabinet, inducing sectionalism between the North and South that would eventually lead to one of America's deadliest wars to that date.

The oldest of six children, O'Neill spent most of her childhood in her father's tavern, the Franklin House. Her parents believed in education and balance, so she was sent off to boarding school to be educated in English, French, and music. While most women were expected to sit submissively at home, her intelligence, wit, and liberal mouth outrightly broke these stereotypes.

Politicians, senators, and congressmen would often stop by William O'Neale's tavern. While overhearing their heated debates and arguments, Peggy soon discovered that these important figures were just as flawed as everyone else. Little did she know that this understanding of politics would play a significant role in her influence over the US Cabinet.

O'Neill was married to navy pursuer John Timberlake with three children when she first met John Henry Eaton. He had taken interest in her in 1818 when he began to stay at the Franklin House, but was hesitant over rumors of her scandalous teenage life, many of which consisted of attempted elopement and discouraged suitors. However, Eaton enjoyed O'Neill's company through his close friendship with her husband, and when Timberlake died in 1828, they considered marriage. They were discouraged by rumors that Timberlake committed suicide due to his wife's unfaithful behavior, but Andrew Jackson, who was grieving the loss of his wife, encouraged their relationship. With the president's blessing, they were married in early 1829.

Issues instantly arose when Eaton was appointed as Secretary of War. He initially hoped that his new role would salvage her tainted reputation, but Peggy O'Neill's attractiveness and charisma soon fostered jealousy amongst the other wives of the cabinet members, and her lowly status and reputation made her an easy target, especially to Vice President John Calhoun's wife, Floride Calhoun. While President Jackson was trying to focus on his cabinet, he was constantly distracted by the bad blood between its member's wives. Martin Van Buren named Jackson's preoccupation with this conflict "Eaton Malaria".

Andrew, who had taken a liking to O'Neill and her father, was quick to defend the young Irish woman, even though she did "not want endorsements [of virtue] any more than any other lady in the land." During an exclusive cabinet meeting, he even argued with one of the ministers about her reputation, declaring, "She is as chaste as a virgin!" 

However, he could not deny the schism that "The Petticoat Affair" had struck in the cabinet. To resolve this conflict, Jackson had Van Buren step down from Secretary of State and Eaton to step down from Secretary of War. This forced Jackson to completely rearrange and replace his cabinet, which also meant that his vice president, John Calhoun, was fired. Calhoun, bitter from the sudden loss of his position, would go on to become an enemy of Jackson, taking lead of the South and inducing sectionalism, which eventually resulted in the Civil War.

Peggy O'Neill set off a chain of history-altering events. The impact of her past rebellious streak and knowledge of politics easily made her stand out from the rest of the women of the time. Her conflict with the wives of the US cabinet members influenced Jackson to reorganize his cabinet, which triggered his famous rivalry with John C. Calhoun. This feud promoted sectionalism that would contribute greatly to the Civil War.

Today, women are changing politics in much more positive ways. One of the presidential candidates for 2016 is a woman. As of 2015, 104 women hold seats in the United States Congress. Many more have risen up against old antifeminist stereotypes and currently hold significant power in deciding the fate of our nation. However, Peggy O'Neill was one of the first women to truly impact the US government, and ultimately revolutionized the role of power women have in politics.



Written by: Megan Tsern

Sources: 
Pierce, J. Kingston. "Andrew Jackson: The Petticoat Affair -- Scandal in Jackon's White House | HistoryNet." HistoryNet. N.p., 05 Aug. 2016. Web. 12 Sept. 2016.
"Women in U.S. Congress 2015." CAWP. Rutgers Eagleton Institute of Politics, n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2016.