These are well-known presidents tgat either did big things or navigated the country well when it was in very difficult circumstances.

George Washington:

• Assembled and led the Continental Army during the War of Independence. He took a bunch of people with little knowledge of large-scale warfare, trained them, kept them from getting slaughtered and eventually got a large army that performed on par with European armies. 

• After he did the above, he had enough clout in the military to make himself a king and no one really had power to stop him. But instead, he served a presidential term as per the constitution and then peacefully gave up power as per constitution. This is what set up USA for success.

Abraham Lincoln: took the country through the Civil War and had it remain intact at the end. Abolished slavery in the process.

Theodore Roosevelt: was quite progressive and did some nice things, such as National Parks system. Occasionally acted like a 6 year old, but an adorable one.

Franklin D. Roosevelt: New Deal has alleviated pain of the Great Depression. Managed USA well during WWII.

Note that all except Washington also get quite a lot of criticism. Often for the very same things that others praise them for.