According to Arthur Schlessinger, great presidents share the following things in common: 

1)  each held the stage at a critical moment in history and by timely action attained timeless results;

2)  each took the side of liberalism vs. the status quo;

3)  each was not only a constructive statesman but also a realistic politician;

4)  each left the executive branch stronger and more influential than they found it;

5)  each offended vested economic interests and long-standing popular prejudices; 

6)  each (with the exception of Lincoln) came from the upper social strata of society; and

7) most (exceptions being Washington and Wilson) were not good administrators---believing the ends of policy more important than the machinery for achieving them