The Power of Birth Order

Parents insist that how kids turn out depends on when they were born. More and more, science agrees

Rudy Archuleta for TIME

From left, the siblings of the Christory family - Elize (20mos.), Emeil (5), Arthur (6) and Saline (8).

It could not have been easy being Elliott Roosevelt. If the alcohol wasn't getting him, the morphine was. If it wasn't the morphine, it was the struggle with depression. Then, of course, there were the constant comparisons with big brother Teddy.

In 1883, the year Elliott began battling melancholy, Teddy had already published his first book and been elected to the New York State assembly. By 1891—about the time Elliott, still unable to establish a career, had to be institutionalized to deal with his addictions—Teddy was U.S. Civil Service Commissioner and the author of eight books. Three years...

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