安德魯傑克森總統對於已過世妻子瑞秋所受過的痛苦難以忘懷，因為人們指控瑞秋在與前夫離婚之前便和他結了婚，這也讓傑克森感同身受、認為佩姬不應受留言所苦。

范布倫決定幫助佩姬，正足以證明他對於傑克森個人感受的敏銳度有多高，也因為其他的閣員都排斥佩姬伊頓、傑克森決定改以「廚房內閣」（kitchen cabinet）這個非官方顧問團，作為提供建議的來源，其中當然也包含了范布倫在內。

范布倫在1831年辭去正式的內閣職務、轉而幫助傑克森，傑克森接著要求其他的閣員辭去職務，以支持者填補這些職位；他也讓范布倫成為1832年競選時的副總統搭檔，在傑克森第二次贏得總統大選時，很明顯地也決意要培養范布倫成為他的總統接班人。

President Andrew Jackson never forgot or forgave the pain his dead wife, Rachel, had suffered when people accused her of having married him before her divorce from her first husband was final. Jackson was determined that Peggy Eaton should not suffer as Rachel had.

Van Buren's decision to support Peggy Eaton demonstrated his sensitivity to Jackson's feelings. And so when the rest of his Cabinet rejected Peggy Eaton, Jackson decided to rely instead on a "kitchen cabinet," an informal group of advisers that included Van Buren.

Van Buren helped Jackson by resigning his official Cabinet position in 1831. Jackson then asked the rest of his Cabinet to resign, replacing them with supporters. And he made Van Buren his vice presidential running mate in 1832. When Jackson won a second term, it soon became clear that he wanted Van Buren to succeed him as president.

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