Final answer:
Peggy Jo was perceived as a socialite in Washington, DC, and had connections to powerful men. Her secret life involved scandalous behavior that contrasted with societal norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Peggy Jo (Margaret O'Neal) was perceived by those around her as a well-known socialite in Washington, DC. She had connections to powerful men and rumors circulated about her involvement with a U.S. senator from Tennessee. This perception of Peggy Jo continued in her secret life, where she engaged in scandalous behavior that contrasted with the decorum and propriety expected of women in society at the time.