A new book, “Andrew Jackson, John C. Calhoun and the Petticoat Affair,” explores a 19th century scandal.

Author and USC Professor Emerita Pat Mc-Neely will discuss the book and the scandal at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, at the Lexington Library, 5440 Augusta Rd., Lexington.

Headlined “The Petticoat Affair” by 19th century newspapers and magazines, the scandal caused Jackson to fire his cabinet and cost Calhoun his almost certain chance to be president.

The center of the political storm was beautiful and vivacious Margaret “Peggy” O’Neal Timber-lake, the daughter of a popular Washington tavern keeper.

She had been widowed only four months in 1829

when she married newly-elected President Jackson’s best friend and Secretary of War John Eaton.

Jackson stunned the nation in 1831 when he fired his official cabinet. During the political upheaval, Calhoun, who Jackson had alienated, resigned as vice president. He returned to Washington as a senator to fight to block high tariffs affecting the South.