his most intimate "Kitchen" advisers were adepts at playing upon his
likes and dislikes. He, however, always resented the insinuation that
he was not his own master, and all testimony goes to show that when he
was once resolved upon a given course his friends were just as
powerless to stop him as were his enemies.

The Jacksonians were carried into office on a great wave of popular
enthusiasm, an for the time being all the powers of government were
theirs. None the less, their position was imperiled almost from the
beginning by a breach within the administration ranks. Calhoun had
contented himself with reelection to the vice presidency in 1828 on
the understanding that, after Jackson should have had one term, the
road to the White House would be left clear for himself. Probably
Jackson, when elected, fully expected Calhoun to be his successor.
Before long, however, the South Carolinian was given ground for
apprehension. Men began to talk about a second term for Jackson, and
the White House gave no indication of disapproval. Even more
disconcerting was the large place taken in the new regime by Van
Buren. The "little magician" held the chief post in the Cabinet; he
was in the confidence of the President as Calhoun was not; there were
multiplying indications that he was aiming at the presidency; and if
he were to enter the race he would be hard to beat, for by general
admission he was the country's most astute politician. With every
month that passed the Vice President's star was in graver danger of
eclipse.

Several curious circumstances worked together to widen the breach
between the Calhoun and Van Buren elements and at the same time to
bring the President definitely into the ranks of the New Yorker's
supporters. One was the controversy over the social status of "Peggy"