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What was the Kitchen Cabinet?

The Kitchen Cabinet was the name given to the unofficial group of advisers to President Andrew Jackson (1767–1845), who reportedly met with him in the White House kitchen. The group included U.S. secretary of state Martin Van Buren (1782–1862), who became vice president during Jackson's second term and served as president from 1837 to 1841. The second member was F. P. Blair (1791–1876), editor of the Washington Post newspaper. He was active in American politics and later helped get Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) elected president in 1860. The third member was Amos Kendall (1789–1869), a journalist who was also a speech writer for Jackson and went on to become U.S. postmaster general. The Kitchen Cabinet was influential in formulating policy during Jackson's first term (1829–33). Many historians believe Jackson relied on these men because his real cabinet (officially appointed...

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