Feelings aside, what would be the difference?

[Pat Mustard]

What I'm asking myself is, if that's the most primitive president in American history? I feel safe in saying he's the most primitive after WWII, but I have next to no knowledge of the ones coming before FDR.

Well, put it to you this way US presidents didn't really feel the need to pander to religious fundamentalists unti the 1950's. No president lused religion as a vote strategy, the early presidents were clear that the wall of separation was there to keep religion out of politics, it was easy to infer from his words in public that Lincoln was either angnotic or atheist and Wilson could openly mock creationism and use it as a vote winning strategy nationwide.

In terms of economics and racism most presidents were probably slightly worse than today, but in terms of freedom of speech, rule of law and freedom of and from religion they were far, far better.