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