7. John C. Calhoun
Presidents: John Quincy Adams, 1825-1829, Andrew Jackson, 1829-32
Party: Democratic-Republican
State: South Carolina
Slave Owner: Yes. Big time.
Calhoun became embroiled in the Petticoat Affair in 1830 when his spouse, Floride, along with a slew of other Washington socialites organized against War Secretary John Eaton’s new wife. The recently widowed Peggy Eaton had the unladylike temerity to own a bar and a boarding house. Eaton’s main defender was, Calhoun’s boss, Andrew Jackson. Calhoun was dropped from the ticket during Jackson’s second term. The scandal was turned into the 1936 film The Gorgeous Hussy.