I've never understood why so many are enamored with Lincoln. As for Washington, he was indispensable at the time because of how the public viewed him, and rightly so, for his performance in the war. As president he relied very heavily on the Sage of Monticello, and, unfortunately, Alex Hamilton.
Jefferson was a small-government guy, but not quite an anti-federalist, probably because he was friends with Madison. Madison was an incoherent flip-flopper who changed his mind the way most people change their underwear.