The first two years of the Obama administration he could do or could have done anything he wanted due to the huge majorities he had in congress. It was the last six that the GOP was able to block. In my opinion they didn't try to destroy him, not in the virulent way the Democrats are trying to destroy and bring down Trump.
Yes, the GOP tried to block almost everything Obama wanted over the last six years. But outside of the birthers, it was more over political and policy ideology. Going back over the polls, only 13% of democrats were willing to give Trump a change on inauguration day. By comparison 41% of Republicans were willing to give Obama a chance on his inauguration day. That's quite a difference. I would say a bit surprising. Looking back through history, 32% of democrats were willing to give G.W. Bush a chance. That wasn't much of a surprise considering the contested election and counting of chad. But it does show there were hard feelings in 2000 and 2016, but not as much hard feelings against the winner in 2008.
For the record.
33% of republicans on inauguration day for Bill Clinton.
38% of democrats on inauguration day for G.H.W. Bush
39% of democrats on inauguration day for Reagan
49% of republicans on inauguration day for Carter
Ford had an amazing 69% of democrats on the day he replaced Nixon
45% of democrats on inauguration day for Nixon
LBJ had 78% of republicans when he assumed office after the assassination of JFK
52% of republicans on inauguration day for JFK
60% of democrats on inauguration day for Eisenhower
13% is an all time low. Then there were more Republicans willing to give Obama a chance than Democrats willing to give Trump, both Bush's or even Reagan. More republicans were on board with Obama than with Bill Clinton. Our politics have changed, we've gotten away from debate on substance and then unity of the nation to negative personal attacks with division remaining.
The above figures take in the view of all members of a political party, not just a senate, house or party leader. With the birther movement, it is surprising in a way that more Republicans were willing to give him a chance than other democrats. But Obama was very likeable as a person regardless of one's political views and I think that helped him. Trump is an obnoxious, uncouth oaf. That hurts him. even a lot of folks who like his policies can't stand the man.