I think Lincoln though comes pretty close to Washington.. I would name them: 1. Washington 2. Lincoln 3. Reagan....
OMG!!!!!! You can't be serious.
A couple of years ago, we took to the kids to see the homes of Washington, Jackson, Madison, Jefferson, and Monroe. As we heard of their personal lives, I found my admiration of Washington increasing and my admiration of the others decreasing. As someone who believes in God's Providence, I think that Washington was God's gift to our fledgling nation.
Much of it has to do with the times. As Lincoln himself said... "I confess that events have controlled me and I have not controlled events."
That's true. And Lincoln usually (not always) did well in responding to those events. Washington, on the other hand, controlled events. True, Lincoln saved the Union in a very difficult time, but it was not the most difficult time in the life of our nation. The most difficult was the birthing process. It was a touch-and-go thing.
The Presidency of Washington created the lasting Union against all odds. His wisdom and leadership, and his "nonpolitical" political skills are the only reason there was a Union to save in 1860. He was a masterful politician in the best sense of the word.
His 8 years in office set every major president for the executive branch and he was the only man alive who could do what was necessary while controlling opposing factions that threatened the Union during it very birth. As Fletchner said, Washington was the Indispensable Man. We owe him everything.