Here are some of the U.S. presidents who were middle children and how they defied middle child syndrome through their exceptional careers.
It is a frequent misunderstanding that middle children are insecure and feel left out.
The idea was that middle children extend the olive branch as if fitting in and currying favor with others is their life’s mission.
Some middle children have gone on to get rid of this myth by rising to leadership positions.
They were so good at leadership that they became heads of state, with some as presidents of the United States.
At least 52 percent of former presidents were middle children. The records are not deceiving.
These illustrious people are John F. Kennedy, Eisenhower, and even George Washington.
So, what made these gentlemen tick? A mix of environmental and socio-political variables probably caused it at the time.
Most people believe that firstborns will become the family’s leader. After all, they must set an example for their younger siblings, which becomes a lifetime virtue.
On the other hand, first-born American presidents make up just the second-largest category.
Only 7 previous presidents were last-borns; most last-borns were too spoilt to speed up their engines, and stereotypes aren’t entirely false.
The high number of middle-child presidents may be due to a lack of rigor in defining who the family’s middle child is.
While the status of firstborn or youngest in a family cannot be denied, the middle child might be any other sibling in between.
Read on to find out who these presidents were.
U.S. Presidents That Were Middle Children
1. John F. Kennedy
President John F. Kennedy was born into an extended family of eight siblings. He was the Kennedy family’s second child.
President John F. Kennedy was the most prominent member of the Kennedy family who was highly interested in politics.
Patriarch Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. ensured his children had equal opportunity to succeed on and off the national scene. As a result, siblings Robert, Jean, and Edward became politically active.
Unfortunately, John F. Kennedy’s tenure as president was cut short when he died in 1963.
Much more was needed for a middle child who had established the Peace Corps, averted recession, and negotiated a ceasefire with the Soviets.
2. George Washington
There is just too much to say about George Washington, the first president of the United States. Few people understood, however, that George was the middle child of a large family.
He had two sisters, three brothers, three half-brothers, and one half-sister.
The leader was known to have revered his elder brother, Lawrence, despite being the first in battle, in the hearts of compatriots, and in the hearts of the people.
Lawrence used his social contacts to introduce George Washington to the top levels of the Virginia aristocracy.
This aided George in opening doors to new opportunities and inspired his rise to the leadership position for which he is still recognized today.
Sister Betty Washington, for example, played an important part in the American Revolution by giving her fortune to the cause.
George Washington may have been a proud nation’s founding father, but his achievement was influenced by siblings who stuck by him during his most trying moments.
3. Dwight D. Eisenhower
President Dwight D. Eisenhower was a shining example of someone who embodied one of the desired qualities of middle children: peacekeeping.
Milton, Edgar, and Earl Eisenhower were his three brothers when he was growing up.
Despite having a distinguished military history (including serving as a five-star general during World War II), the president emphasized peace and community.
Eisenhower’s family lived in a typical Kansas cabin, with the former president and two of his siblings compressed into a room the size of a broom closet.
Their eldest brother, Arthur, on the other hand, had his room. The Eisenhower brothers grew up in a devout orthodox home with strong morals and went on to achieve great success in their various fields.
The diplomatic president’s greatest achievements include negotiating the conclusion of the Korean War and enacting the measure that led to the construction of the interstate highway.
It also brought Americans closer together than ever before.
4. Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln is one of the most recognized presidents of all time, making the list of U.S. presidents who were middle children.
He was an abolitionist and an advocate for equality. The Lincoln Memorial Hall, where his huge image sits proudly as he gazes toward the soil he loved dearly in life, reminds him of his unwavering determination.
Lincoln was the middle child, with a younger brother, Thomas, and an older sister, Sarah.
Thomas, unfortunately, died at the age of three from a childhood ailment. Lincoln and his sister grew up together like two peas in a pod.
Even though the surviving siblings were just two years apart, Sarah assumed the position of matriarch in the Lincoln household when their mother died after a brief illness.
Sarah ultimately married, but at the age of 21, she died tragically during delivery.
Lincoln’s father remarried a lady with her children. Abraham Lincoln, on the other hand, never had a close relationship with his step-siblings.
His adored sister’s charm, wit, and brilliance were said to have inspired the 16th president.
His sister, who lived through his words and deeds, may have influenced some of his firm convictions.
5. Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was another middle-child U.S. president. He was the third and oldest son of Peter Jefferson and Jane Randolph, who had ten children.
Jane and Mary Jefferson were Jefferson’s older sisters. Elizabeth, Martha, Lucy, Anna, and Randolph were his younger siblings who lived to adulthood.
One brother, Peter, and another, a nameless sibling, perished when they were young.
6. James Monroe
James Monroe was the second eldest child and eldest brother in a large family of siblings.
Elizabeth Monroe died after giving birth to her youngest child, Joseph. Spence Monroe, James’ father, died in 1774.
Monroe and his sister, Elizabeth, teamed up to raise their three younger brothers. He also had to decide to drop out of school to help at home.
There was little help from his younger siblings, which didn’t make things easy.
Spence was ill, Andrew was a slacker, and Joseph could still be sucking breasts if their mother were still alive.
All the struggles he went through as a child didn’t hinder his presidential goals.
Did you know that you can grow past middle child syndrome and do remarkable wonders? Being a middle child doesn’t stop you from doing great things, like, say, being the president of the United States.
No matter your position in your family, believe you are meant to do wonderful things and work on your dreams.
