The Eaton Affair

The so called Eaton Affair has two very distinct lessons to show modern historians.  The first one is a very broad view of morality in the United States and how it interacted in politics of the time.  In Howe’s book “What Hath God Wrought” he touches on the Eaton Affair and makes one particularly interesting observation.  He says that “some of the foreign diplomat’s wives were willing to socialize with Margaret Eaton because they took for granted the behavior of European courts and the need set aside morality in the interest of politics. American women were not so trained” (Howe 336).  This gives historians a glimpse into the culture of the day and an interesting view of how American politics intersected with morality versus European politics and intersected with morality. 

The second aspect of the “Eaton Affair,” that deserves closer examination by historians is Jackson’s reaction to the scandal.  He immediately goes to the aid of the lady.  This gives a deeper view into Jackson’s character and perhaps does not make the man all that full of contradictions.  As Kristen Wood states “men who loved Jackson for protecting the rights of the farmer and the mechanic against the banker and the manufacturer also identified with the hero who insisted on his right and duty to avenge a defenseless woman and rebuke disloyal dependents” (Woods 243).  This scandal shows how Jackson’s “honor” is a common theme throughout his presidency.  He ran to the side he felt needed his aid, whether he was right at his assessment is up for debate.  Whether cause was against gossip of “moral” wives or against “corrupt” political deals or against those whom he viewed threatened the state of the union he always viewed himself as the hero riding in to protect the people of the United States.  Whether he was or not, Jackson always saw himself as the defender of the weak.

Howe, Daniel Walker. What Hath God Wrought. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.

Wood, Kristen E. One Woman so Dangerous to Public Morals: Gender and Power in the Eaton            Affair. Journal of the Early Republic , Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer, 1997), pp. 237-275.