Birth Order and Paternal Namesake as Predictors of Affiliation with Predecessor by Presidents of the United States

Abstract

The 38 presidents of the United States were studied to test a report, based on a diverse sample of eminent men, that closer childhood affiliation of firstborn sons with their parents results in identification with authority in adulthood. Affiliation with the preceding president, defined as membership in the same political party, characterized seven of eight presidents who were the firstborn son and given the father's first name, but only one of nine presidents who was a later son with a brother given the father's first name. Only seven (18%) of the presidents were from families in which none of the sons was given the father's first name, and six of these seven were affiliated with the predeces-