Aftermath Petticoat affair

secretary of state martin van buren supported eatons, aiding in rise presidency.

in 1832, jackson nominated van buren minister great britain. calhoun killed nomination tie-breaking vote against it, claiming act ...kill him, sir, kill dead. never kick, sir, never kick. however, calhoun made van buren seem victim of petty politics, rooted largely in eaton controversy. raised van buren further in jackson s esteem. van buren nominated vice president, , elected jackson s running mate when jackson won second term in 1832. van buren became de facto heir presidency, , succeeded jackson in 1837.

although emily donelson had supported floride calhoun, after controversy ended jackson asked return official hostess; resumed these duties in conjunction sarah yorke jackson until returning tennessee after contracting tuberculosis, leaving sarah yorke jackson serve alone jackson s hostess.

john calhoun resigned vice president shortly before end of term, , returned wife south carolina.

in regard petticoat affair, jackson later remarked, [would] rather have live vermin on tongue of 1 of these washington women on reputation. jackson, peggy eaton of many wronged women on lifetime had known , defended. believed every woman had defended in life, including her, had been victim of ulterior motives, political enemies bring him down.

according historian daniel walker howe, episode influenced emergence of feminism. cabinet wives insisted interests , honor of women @ stake. believed responsible woman should never accord man sexual favors without assurance went marriage. woman broke code dishonorable , unacceptable. howe notes feminist spirit in next decade shaped woman s rights movement. aristocratic wives of european diplomats in washington shrugged matter off; had national interest uphold, , had seen how life worked in paris , london.