2/13/2017 SidneyBlumenthalAShortHistoryoftheTrumpFamily:TheFirstFamilyLRB16February2017

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AShortHistoryoftheTrumpFamily
SidneyBlumenthal
ThemostenduringblightleftbehindbyDonaldTrump,longafterhehassmashedthingsup,
willbethepileofbooksdevotedtotryingtomakesenseofhim.Itwillgrowafterinvestigative
journalistshavespentyearsdivingforhiddenrecords,exploringsubterraneancorporations
andforeignpartnersbutneverreachingthedarkoceanbottom.Itwillcontinueafterpolitical
scientistshavetrekkedthroughmountainrangesofsurveydataseekingtheprecisesourceof
hismagneticattractionfortheaggrievedwhitelowermiddleandworkingclasses.Itwill
outlastthepunditsholdingforthonTV,collectinglecturefeesandcrankingoutbestsellers
thatretailinsidedopegleaned,singlesourcedandsecondhand,fromsomewherenearthe
elevatorsofTrumpTower.ItwillnotbestemmedevenafterthememoirsofTrumps
associates,unreliablenarratorsinthespiritoftheirleader,havebeenremovedfromthe
remainderbinsinusedbookstores.

Aweekaftertheinauguration,NineteenEightyFourandTheOriginsofTotalitarianism
werenumberoneandnumber36respectivelyontheUSAmazonbestsellerlist,butthetrue
lifeDonaldJ.TrumpstoryhasmoretodowithwhatScottFitzgeraldcalledfouldustthan
withideasorideology.ReckoningwithTrumpmeansdescendingintotheplacethatmade
him.Whatherepresents,aboveall,isthetriumphofanunderworldofpredators,hustlers,
mobsters,clubhousepoliticiansandtabloidsleazethatfesteredinacornerofNewYorkCity,
avindicationofhismentor,theMafialawyerRoyCohn,afigureunknowntothevast
majorityofenthusiastswhojammedTrumpsralliesandhailedhimastheauthenticvoiceof
thepeople.

ThenotionofaTrumpliteraturebegins,appropriately,withanimaginarynovel,1999:
CasinosoftheThirdReich,contrivedbyKurtAndersen,aneditoratSpy,aNewYork
magazineofthe1980sand1990s.Overseveralmonthsinlate1989andearly1990,Andersen
keptreferringtothenonexistentCasinosoftheThirdReichanditsimplausibleprotagonist,
DonaldTrump,whosenarcissisticexhibitionismofferedaneverendingsourceof
unintentionalselfsatire.Whosmytoughestcompetitorifnotincontent,onlyinstyle?he
asked.PrinceCharles,heanswered.Imthinkingofbecominganentertainer,healsosaid.
LizaMinnelligets$75,000anighttosing,andImreallycuriousastohowIwoulddo.Yes,
Andersenwrote,intheblockbuster1999:CasinosoftheThirdReich,itsnoblemanlounge

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singerDonaldTrump!AndersensimplyquotedTrump,referredtoCasinosoftheThird
Reichandsatback.Trumpdidallthework.Thefabulousnovelhadnoplotandthe
protagonistscharacterdidntdevelopjustlikeinreallife.Spyassumeditsreaderswerein
onthejokeabouttheshortfingeredvulgarian.(MarcoRubioflungSpysslightagainst
Trumpinadebate,withoutnotingitsprovenanceinthedefunctmagazine,ifindeedheknew
it.Trumpheatedlyreplied:Iftheyresmallsomethingelsemustbesmall.Iguaranteeyou
theresnoproblem.TheTrumpspectacleoftenendswithinsultimitatingsatire.)

FredTrump,Donaldsfather,wasakingofQueenstheDonaldbecameajokerin
Manhattan.Insearchoffameandgreaterfortuneinthebigcity,hesetoutfromthefamily
mansionwithits23rooms,ninebathroomsand,atthefront,fourwhitecolumnsadorned
withaconfectedfamilycrest.ACadillacandaRollsRoycewereparkedinthedriveway,
guardedbytwocastironjockeys.EveninQueens,itwasaworldapart.Beakiller,Fred
Trump,whoruledallofuswithasteelwill,toldhim.Thenhesaid:Youareaking.

TrumpwasntlookeddownoninManhattanbecausehewasaparvenu,adressedtokill
bridgeandtunnelbounderfromanouterborough.NewYorkershardlyhaveabiasagainst
aspiringnewcomers.ThemusicalHamiltonexaltsaclassicNewYorkstoryofabrilliant
youngimmigrantrisinginamercantileculture.(Ihearitshighlyoverrated,Presidentelect
TrumptweetedlastNovemberafterthecastaddressedVicePresidentelectMikePence,ashe
wasleavingthetheatre,callingonthenewadministrationtoworkonbehalfofallofus.)
WaltWhitmansanginMannahattaofacityliquid,sane,unruly,musical,selfsufficient.
TrumpwishedtobemorethanacceptedinManhattan:hewantedtobeadored,thereand
onlythere,andcametodespiseitinallitsdiversityandcacophonywhentimeandagainhe
wasrejected.IwanttowakeupinacitythatdoesntsleepandfindImkingofthehill,top
oftheheap.ThelyricsofFrankSinatrasstandardringoutlikeamockingchorusfromthe
YankeeStadiumwhenthehometownwins.PoorTrump,whothoughtthesongshouldbehis
anthem,couldnevershakehislittletownblues.Hishumiliationathisfailuretomakeit
thereisattheheartofhisvengefulcompulsiontowreakhumiliationonthosehefearswill
belittlehim.Theuncontrollableangerthatunleashesaregularfloodofinsultsderivesfrom
hisprofoundfeelingthathehasbeen,isbeingandwillbediminished.Inaconstantstateof
alertandhurt,hevictimisesothersbecauseheburnswiththefeelingthatheisthetrue
victim.Everytimehisoutlandishbehaviourturnshimintothebuttofajoke,especiallyatthe
handsofsourcesassociatedwithNewYork,fromSpysjibestoAlecBaldwinsimpersonation
onSaturdayNightLive,hisrageisstoked.Portrayinghimselfastheinnocentpartyhelashes
out,anarcissisticreflexbutalsoatactichelearnedfromRoyCohn.

Resentmentbornofentitlement,ofthefeelingthathewasbeingtreatedasaninferiorthough
heknewhewassuperior,wasaninadvertentandinverselinkwiththelowermiddleclass
whiteswhofledQueensandBrooklyninthe1950sand1960sfortheLongIslandsuburbsto
escapeblackmigration.TheywentonewayandTrumpanother,butbothwererepelledby

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Manhattansracialliberalism,whichwasseenasaninsulttoandimpingementontheirown
statusfromthoseaboveandbelowthem.

Trumpsloathingandbullyingareamongthefewthingshecamebyhonestly:theywerepart
ofhisinheritance.FredTrumpwasarrestedforparticipatinginaviolentKuKluxKlanrally
in1927hehadMobtiesandflagrantlydiscriminatedagainstblackswhenrentingout
housing.WoodyGuthrie,hismostfamoustenant,wroteabouthislandlordinthefirstliterary
workonaTrump,OldManTrump:

Isuppose
OldManTrumpknows
Justhowmuch
Racialhate
hestirredup
Inthebloodpotofhumanhearts
Whenhedrawed
Thatcolourline
Hereathis
Eighteenhundredfamilyproject

In1988,Spyconductedanationalpoll,thefirsteveronthepresidentialpotentialofDonald
Trump.Offeredalistofnoncandidates,voterswereasked:Whoareyoumostdisappointed
isntrunningforpresident?Trumpgot4percentofthevote.Tellingly,Spydiscoveredthe
celebritysirreduciblebase:Intermsoflevelofeducation,thevoterswhomostfavoureda
Trumpcandidacywitha9percentratingwerethosewhosemindsremainunclutteredby
anylearningbeyondjuniorhighschool.

TrumpwasalreadyamongNewYorksstockcastofcolourfulcharacters,oneofSpystopten
jerks,joiningnotoriousloudmouthsoftheerasuchastheNewYorkYankeesbullyingowner
GeorgeSteinbrenner(anotherRoyCohnclient).FromtheBronxtotheBattery,opinionon
Trumpsetashardasthecementonhisconstructionsitesandasfastashehadordered
underpaidPolishimmigrantconstructionworkersin1980tojackhammertheArtDeco
friezesontheFifthAvenueBonwitTellerbuildingtomakewayforhistributetohimself,
TrumpTower,aslabofbanalitywhichresemblesanelongatedflatscreenTV.Hehad
promisedtopreservethereliefsfortheMetropolitanMuseum,butafterblastingthemto
smithereenstowidespreadcondemnationtheTrumpOrganisationissuedapressrelease
declaringthatthesculptureswerewithoutartisticmerit.ThroughaPRagent,Trump
claimedthedemolitionwasamatterofaestheticjudgmentand,headded,costhim
$500,000,nodoubtaroundnumberpulledoutofahat.IntheNewYorkTimesthePR
spokesmanidentifiedhimselfasJohnBarron.IntheAssociatedPressstorythesame
publicitymancalledhimselfDonaldBaronandwasquotedassayingthatthemeritofthese

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stoneswasnotgreatenoughtosavethem.BothJohnandDonaldwereTrump.Whatdo
youthink?Doyouthinkblowingupthesculptureshashurtme?heaskedVanityFaira
decadelater.

Whocares?LetssaythatIhadgiventhatjunktotheMet.Theywouldhavejust
putthemintheirbasement.IllneverhavethegoodwilloftheEstablishment,the
tastemakersofNewYork.Doyouthink,ifIfailed,theseguysinNewYorkwould
beunhappy?Theywouldbethrilled!Becausetheyhavenevertriedanythingon
thescalethatIamtryingthingsinthiscity.Idontcareabouttheirgoodwill.

ThenTrumpfiredtheillegalimmigrantlabourers,thePolishbrigade,aftertheydcompleted
theirwork,meaningthattheyweredeprivedofwagesandbenefits.TheUSLabor
Departmentfiledsuitagainsthim,afederaljudgefoundhimguiltyoffraud,notingthathis
testimonywasnotcredible,andeventuallyhepaidafineinasealedagreement.

DonaldTrumpsuniversallydisparagedimageinManhattanattainedskyscraperheightsat
theturnofthe1990s,afterhisflamboyantlybungledrealestateprojects,tabloidhijinks,
manicclubhopping,flagrantMobassociations,cruelwifedumping,outrageousdefenceof
hishousingdiscrimination,nottomentionhispurchaseofscreamingfullpagenewspaper
adsdemandingthedeathpenaltyforblackyouthsaccusedofrape,theCentralParkFive,
wholaterturnedouttohavebeeninnocent.Thebankscallmeallthetime,heboasted.Can
weloanyoumoney,canwethis,canwethat.ButTrumphadwildlyrunup$3billionin
debt.NowhisgrandioseTrumpShuttleairlinecrashedandburned.Helosthiscrownjewel,
thePlazaHotel.(TheysaythePlazaisworth$400million?Trumpsaysitsworth$800
million,saidTrump.Whothehellknowswhatitisworth?)Hiscasinoempireacrossthe
HudsonRiverinAtlanticCity,hisTajMahal,wentbellyup.(Themostspectacularhotel
casinoanywhereintheworld.)Hedeclaredbankruptcyfourtimesinordertostiffhis
contractorsandworkers.Everyfinancialhouseinthecityspurnedhispleatoextendhis
loans.Ratherthanaccedingtohischildishdemandsaftermeetingsatwhichhebrandished
newspaperclippingsabouthisanticsinsteadoffinancialpapers,thebanksputtheprofligate
Trumponanallowancelikeanirresponsibleadolescent.Hehadtosellvirtuallyeverything,
includinghisyacht,theTrumpPrincess,whichhehadpurchasedfromtheshadowySaudi
armstraderAdnanKhashoggi.TrumpthreatenedtosueajournalistattheWallStreet
Journalforaccuratelyreportinghiscollapse,oneofhismanyattemptstointimidatethe
press,andanothertechniquehelearnedfromRoyCohn.

Waaaah!LittleDonald,UnhappyAtLastTrumpsFinalDays,crowedthecoverstory
intheAugust1990issueofSpy.Theillustrationdepictedhimasawailingtoddler.Thestory
insidethemagazine,ACasinoTooFar,featuredafictionalscrapbookofnewspaper

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clippingscarryingthebrashtyroforwardtohismiserablefuturein1996,bloated,balding
andbroke,doingalittleconsultingfortheSultanofBrunei.

Trumpneverfittedthemythologyofruggedindividualismhemimickedandtriedtosellas
intrinsictohisbrand.LaunchedasafrontandjuniorpartnerforthetaintedFredTrumpin
Manhattanrealestate,hehadbeenongaudydisplayinNewYorksincehefirstcrossedthe
QueensboroBridgewith$14millionfromhisfather.Myfathergavemeaverysmallloanin
1975andIbuiltitintoacompanythatsworthmany,manybillionsofdollars,heliedduring
oneofthepresidentialdebates.Bornwithasilverspooninhismouth,heinsiststhathehas
pulledhimselfupbyhisbootstraps.But,aswellasstakinghimtolaunchhisrealestate
career,whentheTajwassinkinglikeDonaldsownprivateTitanic,FredTrumprushedtothe
casinotobuy$3.35millioninchipstobuoyhisflailingchild,whousedthemoneytoavoid
defaultbymakinganinterestpaymenthewouldntotherwisehavehadtheliquidreservesto
meet.AstraightloanwouldhaveputFredTrumpinthelengthyqueueofcreditors.Withhis
loanintheformofchipshecouldredeemitassoonashissonhadthecapital.TheNew
JerseyCasinoControlCommissionruledayearlaterthatFredTrumphadengagedinan
illegalloanandthatDonaldshouldreturnit,whichwouldhaveforcedhimintoinstant
bankruptcy.TheTrumpsblithelyignoredthefindingandinsteadpaidameagre$65,000
fine,thoughthemanoeuvrefailedtosavethecasino.

ButTrumpevadedthefateSpyhadforeseenforhim.Hisgeniuswastopromotehis
clownishness,sothattheheadlinesfedtotheNewYorkPostconsistingofmakebelieve
quotesfromhisthenmistressMarlaMaples(BestSexIveEverHad)becameaPRplatform
forthelicensingofhiscelebratednametomurkyinvestorsfromRussia,ChinaandSaudi
ArabiawhowerelookingforanAmericanfrontman.Hissalvationwasadoubleplayofacon.

TheglitzierthegiganticbronzeblockcapitalsofhisnamestaringdownFifthAvenueand
acrossCentralPark,themoresecureNewYorkersfeltintheircontempt.TrumpHotelwas
strictlyforoutoftownersseekingtobesprinkledwithersatzgolddust.Trumpcouldnever
escapebeingaQueensborncasinooperator,asSpystampedhim.Buthewasntscorned
onlyforhisunrelievedvulgarity.ThereactiontohimwasnttheantiquesnobberyEdith
Whartondissectedinhersocietynovels,buttheworldlyperspicacityofNewYorkershighand
low.Trumpsquestforrespectabilityonlydeepenedhisproblems.Itwasntthathehad
missedhismomentlikethepassiveNewlandArcherinTheAgeofInnocence,butthathis
lovewasunrequitedbecauseNewYorkfoundhimrepellentdespitehisincessantlyharassing
courtship.

TrumpsrealityTVshows,TheApprenticeandTheCelebrityApprentice,werefantasy
projectionsofhisdominanceinthecityinwhoseeyeshewasobviouslynotthemasterofthe
universe.From2004to2015,heplayedonTVthepersonathatheintendedManhattanto
worship.Ofcourse,realityinTrumpsrealityTVwasntreal.Ineveryepisodeheactedout
dramasofcontroloversubmissivecontestantsseekinghisfavour,wiltingathisdenialofit

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andfawningathisapproval.UnderTrump,winningwastheroadtoserfdom.Thesubtext
waspathos,notonlyonthepartofthesupplicantsbutalsointhebossstrademarkphrase,
Yourefired.NomatterhowmanypeopleTrumprejected,hecouldntforcehisown
acceptance.

IfthereisonesubjectthathasunifieddiscordantNewYorkersoverthepastfivedecades,it
hasbeenTrump.In2016,helost87percentofthevoteinManhattan,andmostofthose
whovotedforhimprobablydidsowithdistaste,castingtheirloyalRepublicanvotesfora
manwhoformostofhislifedonatedmoneytoDemocraticcandidatesinaDemocraticcity.
(TrumpalsolostinQueens,carryingonly22percentofthevoteinBrooklyn,hewonless
than20percentandintheBronx,about10percent.)

Aftertheelection,TrumpsmanicsensitivitytohisrebuffbyNewYorkersexplodedinhisids
unfilteredoutlet,histriggerhappyTwitteraccount.WhenVanityFairheadlinedareviewof
hisrestaurantTheTrumpGrillCouldBeTheWorstRestaurantInAmericahefiredoffan
earlymorningtweetdirectedatitseditor,GraydonCarter,whonotcoincidentallyhadbeen
coeditorofSpy.HasanyonelookedatthereallypoornumbersofVanityFairMagazine.
Waydown,bigtrouble,dead!GraydonCarter,notalent,willbeout!Immediately,Vanity
Fairhaditsbiggestonedayincreaseinsubscriptions.Onceagain,Trumphadfoolishly
exposedhisthinskin.Forhim,Manhattanhasalwaysbeentheoppositeofwhathomewas
forRobertFrost,theplacewhere,whenyouhavetogothere,theyhavetotakeyouin.Wa
aaah!

Winningthepresidencywasneveradeepdesire,moreabrandingschemethatspunoutof
control,butTrumphastriedtoturnhisvictoryintoameanstocompelNewYorkersfinallyto
genuflect.Washingtonhadneverheldtheslightestallureforhimuntilnowwhenitis
leverageoverNewYork.Evenso,WashingtonisstrictlyPalookaville,anowheretownfor
grownupstudentcouncilpresidents.ThereisonlyoneCityonaHillforTrump,thecitythat
doesntsleep,whereaperpetuallywideawakecollectiveeyefixesitsunwaveringjudgmenton
him.Itsuptoyou,NewYork,NewYork.PresidentTrumpinhiseyrieisKingKongdefying
thegapingcitybelow.Butincontrasttotheoriginalmovie,thereisnotragicantihero:he
lacksthegiantapessympathyforabeautifulyoungwoman,anditwontbebeautythatkills
thebeast.

Afterhisnominationforpresident,Trumptalkedabouthisfondestwish:winningNewYork
State.Wearegoingtowinthisstate,heproclaimed,addingthathehadwontheRepublican
primarytherebecausenobodyknowsmebetterthanNewYorkers.Unfortunatelyforhim,
NewYorkersdidknowhim.Butearlierinthecampaignhehadexpressedanotherwish.
Nothinghesaidduringthecampaignmoresuccinctlyreflectedhisfuriousanddamaged
narcissismthanhisdreamofcommittingcoldbloodedmurderandgettingawaywithit.I
couldstandinthemiddleofFifthAvenueandshootsomebody,OK,andIwouldntloseany
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voters,OK?ThesomebodyhewantedtokillcouldbeanyNewYorker.Butwhydidheask
twiceifitwasOK?Hisstatementexpressedthreeunconsciousdesiresatonce:strikingback
atNewYorkersbreakingtheruleswithoutconsequenceandgainingadulationfromthe
fansforwhomhecandonowrong.ShootingsomebodyonFifthAvenue,however,
presumablywouldnotwinhimvotersonFifthAvenue,whichiswherehelives.

Wedontwinanymore,Trumplamented.Hisreverentfollowerstookhisomnipotentimage
fromhisrealityshowastherealityandhisangerassomethingfeltontheirbehalf.They
didntunderstandhisinnerinjury.Rousingthecrowdsathisralliestoafeverpitchknock
thecrapoutofthemheencouragedanatmosphereofviolenceandfear.WatchingTrump
incitehispitchforkrevolt,NewYorkersweremerelyastoundedthatotherscouldntrecognise
hisalltoofamiliarstuntmanship.HeknewhehadtocrosstheHudsontofindtruebelievers,
butthefurtherintoDuckDynastyterritoryheventuredthemoreitfeltlikebanishmentto
Queens.Inwinninghehadnotwon.Hecouldntgetoverit.Nothinghadchangedforhim
sincetheinterviewhegavetoVanityFairin1990inwhichhesaid:Therearetwopublicsas
farasImconcerned.TherealpublicandthentherestheNewYorksocietyhorseshit.The
realpublichasalwayslikedDonaldTrump.TherealpublicfeelsthatDonaldTrumpisgoing
throughTrumpbashing.WhenIgooutnow,forgetaboutit.Immobbed.Itsbedlam.
Trumpsmostdeeplyfeltgrievance26yearslaterwasntthathelostthepopularvoteby2.8
millionhedismissedthesevotesasfraudulent.Lessthanamonthafterhiselection,the
presidentelectsentoutapostmidnighttweet:JusttriedwatchingSaturdayNightLive
unwatchable!Totallybiased,notfunnyandtheBaldwinimpersonationjustcantgetany
worse.Sad.Gettingmadder,heacceleratedhisneverendingattemptstogeteven.Hisfar
rightappointmentswerentsomuchsignsofhisideologicalcommitmentassymbolsofhis
retribution.

TrumphasthumpedaroundManhattanforanepochlikeadinosaurthatsurvived
extinction,anachronisticproofofVeblenslate19thcenturyTheoryoftheLeisureClass,an
anthropologicalexaminationoftherobberbarons,publishedin1899.Veblendescribedthe
tycoonsflauntingtheirconspicuousconsumption,theiratavisticappropriationoffeudal
symbolssuggestingpreindustrialrank,andtheirtreatmentofwomenastrophiesan
archaictraitthatbeginsinthelowerbarbarianstagesofculture.Thekeytounderstanding
thesedisplayswasthattheyestablishedsocialstatusasbasedonthemogulsdistancefrom
actualproductivework.

IfTrumpwasacaptainofindustry,aphraseVeblenpopularised,thentheindustrywas
leisure:hotels,casinos,realityTVshows,abeautypageantandawrestlingfederation.More
thanacenturyafterVeblen,theultimaterepresentativeoftheleisureclassindulgedinan
aestheticofconspicuouswasteinordertoofferhimselfasanobjectofenvyandmagical
thinking.Therehasalwaysbeenadisplayofwealthandalwayswillbe,untilthedepression

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comes,whichitalwaysdoes,TrumpexplainedtoPlayboy.Andletmetellyou,adisplayisa
goodthing.Itshowspeoplethatyoucanbesuccessful.Itcanshowyouawayoflife.
Dynasty,headded,diditonTV.Itwasconclusiveproof.

Trumpwantedhispretencestobeacceptedatfacevalueassignsofhisauthenticity,his
ostentationasaccountabilityinlieuoftaxreturns.Hisrecklessnesswasintendedtoengender
deference,hisdisorderbeliefinhispowertoimposeorder.Thefauxaristocratsoughtto
inspireafauxpopulism:Ilovethepoorlyeducated.ForVeblen,hisvulgaritywouldhave
beenselfdefeatinginthestruggleforreputation,thelowerbarbarianstages,undermining
anypotentialimageofhonorificvirtue.InVeblensterms,heneverlearnedtoemulatethe
tasteforunderstatedpreindustrialtrappingsthatwouldenablehimtoassimilatetothe
upperclass.

Hisstylehasbeenunfailinglykitsch.HispenthouseapartmentatTrumpTowerismuseum
likeinitscuratingofexquisitelytackytasteinafauxluxestyle:marblefloors,wallsand
columnsLouisXIVchairswithcushionsstitchedwiththeTrumpcoatofarmsgildedlamps,
vasesandcrownmouldingsceilingmuralswithscenesfromGreekmythology(Ifthiswere
ontheceilingoftheSistineChapel,heboasted,itwouldbeverymuchinplaceintermsof
quality)alargecopyofastatueofErosandPsycheafakeRenoircoffeetablebooks,
carefullyplacedtheVogueLivingBook,theVanityFairOscarNightBookanda
MuhammadAlitributebook.TheTrumpstyleisdevelopingcountrydespot,ratherthan
EuropeanorevolvedAmerican,PeterYorkwroteintheTimes.Itdoesnteventrytoget
thingsrightrealantiques,architecturallycorrectdetailingoranyofthatbecause,as
withDCdespots,neithertheclientnorthepeoplehewantstoimpresscareaboutthat.

Trumpsinterestininteriordecoratingexceedshisinterestinpaintings.Hismajor
acquisitionshavebeenasixfoottallportraitofhimselfdoneinfiveminutesbyalittleknown
speedpainterandanotherportraitthatnowhangsoverthebarattheChampionsBarand
GrillattheTrumpNationalDoralMiamiGolfResort.Bothwereboughtwithfundsfromthe
DonaldJ.TrumpFoundation.Anotherportraitofhimselfinagoldenglowasayoungman
inatennissweaterhangsathisMaraLagomansion.HeentitleditTheVisionary.

HeonceturneddownthechanceofowningAndyWarholspicturesofTrumpTower.Warhol
metthealreadyfamousTrumpon22February1981atabirthdaypartyforRoyCohn.They
metagainon24AprilatWarholsFactory,wheretheydiscussedTrumpTowerandagreed,
WarholnotedinTheAndyWarholDiaries,thatIshoulddoaportraitofthebuildingthat
wouldhangovertheentrancetotheresidentialpart.Warholproducedabeautifulseriesof
multilayeredpaintingsinblack,silverandgoldsomewithasprinklingofWarholsglittering
diamonddust,accordingtotheWarholMuseumblog.WarholsrenderingofTrumpTower
wasanidealisedimagining.Thetwomenmeton5AugustattheFactory,whereTrump
deliveredhisjudgmenttotheartist.MrTrumpwasveryupsetthatitwasntcolourco
ordinated,Warholwrote.Trumpsenthisinteriordecoratortocomedownwithswatchesof

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materialsoIcandothepaintingstomatchthepinksandoranges.IthinkTrumpssortof
cheap,though,Igetthatfeeling.Intheend,WarholcouldntsatisfyTrumpandhenever
boughtthepaintings.Warhols15minuteswithTrumpwereover.Heendedupliketheother
stiffedcontractors.Theyranintoeachotheroncemoreon26February1983atanotherRoy
Cohnbirthdayparty.AndIvanaTrumpwasthereandshecameoverandwhenshesawme
shewasembarrassedandshesaid:Oh,whateverhappenedtothosepictures?

Itisafactthatmybuildingsareacclaimedandtheyhavelastingpower,Trumpwrotein
2014inanopedfortheChicagoTribunetotouthisnewTrumphotelinthecity.Atthepress
conferenceannouncingthathewouldbuildTrumpTower,hesaidloudlytothearchitect,
DerScutt:GivethemtheoldTrumpbullshit.Tellthemitisgoingtobeamillionsquarefeet,
68storeys.Scuttreplied:Idontlie,Donald.Trumpsaestheticcontributiontothedesignof
hisbuildingshasbeentotellthearchitectstomakethembigandshiny.Duringthecampaign
hesuggestedhewasanarchitecturalgenius.TrumpdescribedhimselfasanAynRandfan,
aninterviewerforUSATodayreported.HesaidofhernovelTheFountainhead:Itrelatesto
business[and]beauty[and]lifeandinneremotions.Thatbookrelatestoeverything.He
identifiedwithHowardRoark,thenovelsidealisticprotagonist,whodesignsskyscrapersand
ragesagainsttheestablishment.RoarkisanUbermensch,atoweringgeniussetabovethe
massofmediocrity.Heblowsupabuildinghehasdesignedratherthansubmittoany
modifications,istriumphantlyacquittedafterdefendinghimselfeloquentlyincourtandwins
thegirl:itsanadolescentboysdreamplot,Nietzscheforteenagers.Trumpsdescriptionof
thenovelrevealsnoevidencethathehasactuallyreadit,buthisidentificationwithRoarkis
consistentwithRandsexaltationofegoism.

TrumpsselfpromotionalgrandiosityhaspromptedendlesscomparisonstoP.T.Barnum,the
showmanandcircusoperatorofthe19thcenturywhowasthesonofastorekeeper.(A
Googlesearchturnsupmorethan520,000referencestoTrumpBarnum.)OneofTrumps
advocates,alsoconsumedbyhisowngrandiosity,NewtGingrich,raisedtheBarnumclichin
Trumpsdefence:itresonateswellwiththeworkingclass,hesaid,butnottheelite.The
hackneyedcomparisonisdemeaningtoBarnum.UnlikeTrump,whonotonlydidntwrite
thebooksthatcarryhisnamebutdoesntseemtohavereadthem,Barnumwroteagreat
deal.HewaswittyMarkTwainwasanadmirer.Hewasalsoaphilanthropist,thefounderof
theBridgeportHospital,andaneducator,helpingtofoundandfundTuftsUniversity.Both
asamemberoftheConnecticutstatelegislatureandasmayorofBridgeport,hewas
responsibleforahostofcivicreformsandimprovements.

NobodyinNewYorkbuysTrumpshumbugthathesareincarnationoftheoriginalragsto
richesherooutofHoratioAlgersRaggedDickor,StreetLifeinNewYorkwiththeBoot
Blacks,aGildedAgetaleofpluckandtheProtestantEthicthatliftsanurchinto
respectabilitythroughabusinesscareerandchurchgoing.Ina1990interviewTrumpboasted
toPlayboythattheworkingmanlikesmebecauseheknowsIworkedhardanddidnt
inheritwhatIvebuilt.Hey,ImadeitmyselfIhavearighttodowhatIwantwithit.Trump,
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theheirwiththeurchinsmanners,hasundergonenomoraltransformation.Therapacious
spiritofhisformativeManhattanperiodtheworldofTheBonfireoftheVanities,withits
scandaldrivenmedia,unscrupulousracehustlersandpoliticallyambitiousdistrictattorneys
isstillwithhim.Buthealsostilllivesintheshadowofthefictionalcharacterwhobecame
thesymboloftheRoaringTwenties.

WhatpreyedonGatsby,thenarratoraskshimselfinFitzgeraldsnovel,whatfouldust
floatedinthewakeofhisdreams?ThefabulouslywealthyGatsbytakesamansiononLong
Island,holdsextravagantpartiesdrawingtheswellsfromManhattan,andappearstobethe
effortlessmaestroofthescene.Hehaswilledhimselfintobeing.GatsbyisactuallyJayGatz,a
poorboyfromtheplains,inromanticpursuitofDaisyBuchanan,theupperclassobjectof
hisdesire,whooncerejectedhim.Hebelieveshecanwinherbackthroughdisplaysofwealth
andmanners,butsheisnowmarriedtoTomBuchanan,anupperclassboor.Trumpsclaim
tohaverisenGatsbylikeistheoppositeofGatsbysmagicalselfinvention.Gatsbywascareful
tomaintaintheairofthegentlemanhewishedtobetakenfor.Trumpistheuncouthsonof
privilegeforwhom,asforTomandDaisy,therearenoconsequencesforsmashingthings
up.TrumpisTomBuchananfarcicallyplayingGatsby.Gatsbymighthaveappreciatedthe
audacity,butwouldhaveavoidedtheshabbiness.BothGatsbyandTrump,however,are
charactersenthralledbythepossibilityofrecapturingthepastandreshapingitasthey
imagineitshouldhavebeen.

WhatGatsbyandTrumpalsohaveincommonaregangsters.Gatsbysfortuneissecretly
derivedfromhisbootleggingpartnershipwithMeyerWolfsheim,acharacterbasedonthe
mobsterArnoldRothstein,whofixedthe1919WorldSeries.Trumpsbusinesshasbeen
dependentalmostfromthestartonrealliferacketeers.TherewasAnthonyFatTony
Salerno,bossoftheGenovesecrimefamily,andPaulBigPaulieCastellano,bossofthe
Gambinocrimefamily,whoownedthecompanythatprovidedthereadymixcementfor
TrumpTower,usedinplaceoftheusualsteelgirders.TherewasJohnCody,thebossof
TeamstersLocal282,whocontrolledthecementtrucksandwasanassociateoftheGambino
family.TherewasDanielSullivan,Trumpslabourconsultant,whoinpartnershipwiththe
PhiladelphiacrimebossNicodemosNickyScarfosfinancier,soldTrumpapropertyin
AtlanticCitythatbecamehiscasino.TherewasSalvatoreSalvieTesta,crownprinceofthe
PhiladelphiaMob,whosoldTrumpthesiteonwhichtwoconstructionfirmsownedbyScarfo
builttheTrumpPlazaandCasino.TherewasFelixSater,convictedmoneylaundererforthe
RussianMafia,TrumpspartnerinbuildingtheTrumpSoHohotelthroughtheBayrock
GroupLLC,whichby2007hadmorethan$2billioninTrumplicensedprojectsandby2014
wasnomore.TherewasTevfikArif,anotherTrumppartner,Bayrockschairman,originally
fromKazakhstan.BayrocksequityfinancingcamefromthreeKazakhbillionairesknownas
theTrio,whowerereportedtobeengagedinracketeering,moneylaunderingandother
crimes.Andsoon.[*]

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Therewasnoarttothesedeals.TrumpsrelationshipswiththeMobwerentjustaboutthe
qualityofcement.InhisdefenceitwassaidthatdoingbusinesswiththeMobwas
inescapableinNewYork,butthetruthisthattherewereprominentdeveloperswhocrusaded
againstthesortsofarrangementthatTrumproutinelymade.Frombeginningtoend,
whetherCosaNostraortheRussianMafia,TrumphasbeenmarriedtotheMob.

OnNewYearsEve,PresidentelectTrumpheldapartyathisMaraLagoestateatPalm
Beachforalmostathousandrevellersfromwhomheclearedaneatprofit.Formembersof
hisMaraLagoGolfResort,forwhichheleviesa$100,000entryfee,thepricewas$525a
ticket(guestsatthehotelpaidextra).ForthattheygottominglewithcelebritieslikeSylvester
Stallone,whoturneddownTrumpsoffertobecomechairmanoftheNationalEndowment
fortheArts,andJoeMorningJoeScarborough,theformerRepublicancongressmanturned
TVtalkshowhost.MarjorieMerriweatherPost,heiresstothePostcerealfortune,collectorof
Russianart,Fabergeggsandhusbands,builtthelavish126roomestatein1927.Shelefther
arttotheHillwoodMuseum,whichhadbeenherWashingtonDCresidence,thediamond
earringsthathadbelongedtoMarieAntoinetteandotherpiecesofjewellerytothe
SmithsonianInstitution,andMaraLagototheUSgovernmenttoserveasawinterWhite
House.Trumpsnappeditupin1985whenthegovernmentputtheunusedbutcostly
propertyonthemarket.

AscelebrantsrangintheyearinwhichTrumpwouldbecomepresident,themanhimself
appearedonthestageofMaraLagosgildedballroomtotickoffhisfutureachievements:
WegoingtogetridofObamacare!Standingnexttohimwasatuxedoedmanpumpinghis
fistsatTrumpseverylinetoleadthecheeringthrong.JosephJoeyNoSocksCinqueisa
formerassociateoftheGambinofamilybossJohnGottiwhowasconvictedin1989for
possessionofstolenartworksincludingacoupleof$20,000ChagallprintsandaMir.(The
NewYorkdistrictattorneysofficewithdrewapleabargainafteraninformantreporteda
conversationinwhichGottiwasheardpromisingCinquehewouldtakecareoftheDA.)
AftergettinginvolvedinNewYorkbarsandclubsandtheusedcarbusiness,Cinquegota
newracket.CalledtheAmericanAcademyofHospitalitySciences,itreportedlybestowsStar
Diamondawardsonhotelsandrestaurantsthatpayitsentryfeeandannualcharge.Halfthe
trusteesareTrumpemployees,includingthegeneralmanagerofhisBedminster,NewJersey
golfclub,thevicepresidentofhisMaraLagoresort,andhisbutler.TrumpssonsDonaldJr
andErichavebeenlistedashonorarytrustees,andTrumphimselfwasambassador
extraordinaire.TheStarDiamondwebsitelists19Trumppropertiesthatreceiveits
imprimatur.HowamIinvolvedinit?Trumprepliedin2015toareporterfromYahooNews.
Idontknow.Idontknowthatmysonsareinvolvedwiththat,actually.Askedabout
Cinque,Trumpsaid:Idontknowhimwell.Idontknowhimwell,butIhavefoundhim
overtheyearstobeaveryniceman.In2014,Cinqueswebsitepostedanarticlestating:
JosephCinque,presidentoftheAAHS,hasbeenattendingMrTrumpspartyforthepast16
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years.ItissomewhatofaNewYearsEvetraditionforhimandofcourse,hehasbecomedear
friendswiththeTrumpfamily.

MorethanthefrolicsatGatsbysmansioninWestEgg,NewYearsEveatMaraLagoevokes
thegoingsonatanotherLongIslandestatethatoftheCorleonefamily.Thefounding
fatherofwhatbecametheTrumpOrganisation,FrederickTrump,aGermanimmigrantwho
changedhisnamefromDrumpf,leftasubstantiallegacyofNewYorkrealestateand
investmentsthathadoriginatedinbrothelsandbarsintheYukonandthePacificNorthwest.
Whenhedied,hissonFred,then15yearsold,assumedhismantleunderthestewardshipof
hismother.Hishousingbusinessflourishedfromthe1930suntiltheearly1950sthankstohis
closepartnershipswiththeBrooklynDemocraticPartymachineandasteadyflowofloans
fromtheFederalHousingAuthority.In1954,hewassubpoenaedtoappearbeforetheSenate
BankingCommittee,wherehewasquestionedaboutprofitwindfallsandinflatedcosts.From
thenonhewouldreceivenoFHAloanswhichisthereasontheTrumpVillageonConey
Island,amongotherprojects,wasgreasedbyhisBrooklynpoliticalconnections.Alsocitedin
theFHAinvestigationwasFredTrumpspartner,contractorandfinancierWilliamWillie
Tomasello,whoaccordingtothefederalOrganisedCrimeTaskForcewasassociatedwith
elementsofboththeGambinoandGenovesefamilies.

FredTrumpappearedtobegroomingFredJrtotakeoverhisbusiness.Buthewasaharsh
andexigentfatherandlostpatiencewithhiseldestson.Donald,thougheightyearsyounger,
adoptedhisfathersattitudetoFredJr.DonaldputFreddydownquiteabit,afamilyfriend
toldtheNewYorkTimes.Donaldwasthechildwhowouldthrowthecakeatthebirthday
parties,RobertTrump,theyoungestbrother,whowenttoworkfortheTrumpOrganisation,
reportedtoVanityFair.IfIbuiltthebricksup,Donaldwouldcomealongandgluethemall
together,andthatwouldbetheendofmybricks.FredJrrebelled,firstbyjoiningaJewish
fraternityatLehighUniversity,andthenbygivingupontheTrumpbusinessandbecoming
anairlinepilot.Heliterallyflewaway.ButthefreespiritoftheTrumpfamilyfellinto
alcoholism,crawledbacktoworkononeofhisfathersconstructioncrewsanddiedin1981at
theageof43.WhenFredTrumpdiedin1999,hiswillcompletelycutoutFredJrschildren.
Theysuedfortheirshare,claimingthatthewillhadbeenwrittenunderundueinfluence
fromDonaldTrump.Inretaliation,DonaldwithdrewpaymentsforthemedicalcareofFred
III,whohadcerebralpalsy.Afterextendedlitigation,asettlementwasreached.Donaldhad
learnedsomelessonsfromFredJrsdemise.Ourfamilyenvironment,thecompetitiveness,
wasanegativeforFred,hetoldPlayboy.

Itwasnteasyforhimbeingcastinaverytoughenvironment,andIthinkit
playedhavoconhimHewasthefirstTrumpboyoutthere,andI
subconsciouslywatchedhismoves.IsawpeoplereallytakingadvantageofFred
andthelessonIlearnedwasalwaystokeepupmyguard100percent,whereas

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hedidnt.Hedidntfeelthattherewasreallyreasonforthat,whichisafatal
mistakeinlife.Peoplearetootrusting.

WhiletheTrumpmoneyhaditsoriginsinprostitutionandmultipliedthroughtiesto
clubhousepoliticsandMobfigures,neitherFrederickTrumpnorFredTrumpfitstheroleof
DonVitoCorleone.VitoCorleoneavoidedflamboyanceandpublicity.Hewasstraitlaced,
patientandtactful.Hegainedpowerandinfluencenotonlythroughcrimeandcorruption
butalsobyunderstandingpeoplesfeelingsandhelpingthemwhentheywereintrouble.The
DonsbondwasnottheTrumpway.

FredJrresembledthemiddleCorleonebrother,Fredo,whoisweakandindecisive,andis
eventuallymurderedbyhisyoungerbrother,Michael,afterheassumescontrolofthefamily
business.DonaldwasmostlikethehotheadedSantinoSonnyCorleone,whose
impulsivenessresultsinhisassassinationbyrivalgangmembersatatollbooth.Donaldhas
racedthroughmanytollbooths,buthassurvivedthehailofgunfire.Thoughhegrabbedhold
ofthefamilybusiness,heisnotmuchlikeMichaelCorleone,awarhero,Dartmouthgraduate
andtragicfigurewhoinitiallyresiststhepoisonedCorleonechalice.Earlyon,hetellshis
Waspwifehehasnothingtodowiththesordidbusiness:Thatsmyfamily,Kaythatsnot
me.Buthebecomeseverythinghewasdeterminednottobe.Hissuccessistohave
transformedtheFamilyintoacorporation.Thisisthebusinesswehavechosen,heistoldby
HymanRoth,theMafiacharacterbasedonthereallifemobfinancierMeyerLansky.Roth
alsospeaksaboutthescaleoftheenterprise,biggerthanUSSteel,andsuggeststoMichael
thatsomedayhemightbeabletochooseapresident.

ThememberoftheTrumpfamilywhomostresemblesMichaelCorleoneisIvanka.Her
fathersfavourite,theambitiousandfashionableManhattanitepresentsherselfasan
advocateofchildcareandclimatechangepolicies,sellingherselfastheonehopefordecency
amongtheTrumps.Whilemerchandisingherdresses,shoesandjewelleryshehasachieveda
degreeofsocialacceptanceinthecity.SherepresentsDonaldslastchanceatrespectability,
butherprecariousimagedependsfinallyonrepudiationofthefathersheworships.Thats
myfamilythatsnotme.

RoyCohn,theMafialawyer,wasmorethanjusttheconsigliereinTrumpsstory.Hewas
Donaldsmentor,hisgodfather.IfTrumpreceivedaneducationbeyondhistwoyearsat
FordhamandasatransferstudentatWharton(Imasmartperson.IwenttotheWharton
SchoolofFinance),itwasfromhisguidethroughthecirclesoftheInferno,whoconducted
masterclassesinmalice.Trumpwasanaptpupilinaggression.IdontthinkIgotthatfrom
Royatall,TrumptoldtheWashingtonPost.IthinkIvehadanaturalinstinctforthat.He
didntreallyneedaneducationinheartlessness,buthelearnedthefinerpointsfromCohn.
Offeringhishighestpraise,Trumpcalledhimatotalgeniushebrutalisedforyou.

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LikeTrump,RoyCohnwasthepamperedsonofapoliticallyconnectedNewYorkfamily.His
father,AlbertCohn,wasamajorplayerintheBronxDemocraticParty,anassistantdistrict
attorneywhowasappointedtothedivisionoftheNewYorkSupremeCourtpresidingover
theBronx.RoyCohnwasachildprodigyhegraduatedfromColumbiaLawSchoolatthe
ageoftwenty,andwasappointedasanassistantUSattorneyfortheSouthernDistrictof
NewYork.HepromotedhimselfinhisearlycasesbygivingfalseleakstotheNewYork
WorldTelegram.Hewasputinchargeofprosecutingcommunistagents,stagingseveral
prominentshowtrials,includingoneof11CommunistPartyofficialsforsubversion.In1951,
hetookeffectivecontrolofthetrialofJuliusandEthelRosenberg,whowereaccusedof
stealingatomicsecrets.Hepulledstringstoappointbothchiefprosecutorandjudge,then
urgedthejudgetoimposethedeathpenalty,thoughtheevidenceagainstEthelRosenberg
wasflimsy.CohnstourdeforcebroughthimtotheattentionofSenatorJosephMcCarthy,
whohiredhimaschiefcounselinhisRedhuntinginvestigations.AftertheRedScarecame
theLavenderScare,whenCohnlaunchedacampaignagainsthomosexualsingovernment
jobs,thoughhewasaclosetedhomosexualhimself.

CohnopenedalawofficeinNewYork,takingonsuchclientsastheMafiakingpinsTony
Salerno,PaulCastellano,JohnGottiandCarmineTheCigarGalante,underbossofthe
BonannocrimefamilyaswellastheCatholicArchdioceseofNewYorkandtheNewYork
Yankees.Hewasthecityssupremefixer.Themenacingmilieuaroundhimwasportrayedin
the1957noirmovieSweetSmellofSuccess,aboutaninfluentialandviciousNewYorktabloid
newspapercolumnistcalledJ.J.Hunsecker,modelledonthelatterdayWalterWinchell,who
operatesfromaboothatthe21Club,wherehedineswithmoversandshakers.Hunsecker
rulesthetown,makingandwreckingreputationsthroughsmearsandfear.Whenheusesa
PRagenttodestroyhissistersjazzmusicianboyfriend,whodenouncedhimforhisphony
patriotism,theplotturnsnasty.

DonaldTrumpmetRoyCohnatLeClub,aprivateNewYorkdisco,in1973,whenTrump
was27andhadaseriousproblem.TheJusticeDepartmentwassuinghimandhisfatherfor
racialdiscriminationintheirbuildingat100CentralParkSouth.Myviewistellthemtogoto
hell,Cohnadvised,andfightthethingincourt.Fromthatmoment,CohnandTrumpwere
inseparable.CohnrecalledthatTrumpwouldphonehimmorethanadozentimesaday.
WithCohnastheirattorneytheTrumpsfiledacountersuitagainstthefederalgovernment
forusingGestapoliketactics.Theirsuitwasinstantlydismissedandtwoyearslaterthe
Trumpssettledafterbeingforcedtosignadecreeforbiddingthemfromengagingin
discriminatorypractices.

RogerStone,alongtimeCohnprotgwhobeganhispoliticalcareerasadirtytricksterand
ratfuckerforRichardNixonsreelectioncampaignin1972,explainedtherelationship.First
ofall,hetoldaninterviewer,RoywouldliterallycallupanddictatepiecesforPageSix[of
theNewYorkPost]becauseRupert[Murdoch]wasaclientandbecauseRoyalwayshad
goodmaterial.SoRoyunderstoodthetabloids.Donald,Ithink,learnedthetabloidmedia,
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andthemediacycle,fromRoy.CohnwasthesorcererandTrumptheapprentice.Roywasa
mentorintermsofthefasttrack,Stonesaid.Imean,DonaldwasfromQueens,Manhattans
thefasttrack.Ithink,toacertainextent,DonaldlearnedhowtheworldworkedfromRoy,
whowasnotonlyabrilliantlawyer,butabrilliantstrategistwhounderstoodthepolitical
systemandhowtoplayitlikeaviolin.ForTrump,Cohnservedlikeaculturalguideto
Manhattan,StonetoldtheWashingtonPost.Roywasmorethanhispersonallawyer.

Cohntookhimtothe21Club,wheretheyheldcourtinCohnsreservedredleatherbooth.He
tookhimtohistownhouseon68thStreet,wherehelivedandconductedhislawbusiness,
andwhichwasfilledwitharunningcrewofattractiveyounggaymen,models,cigar
chompingpoliticians,gangstersandjournalisthangerson.Roylivedinamatrixofcrime
andunethicalconduct,accordingtohisbiographerNicholasvonHoffman.Hederiveda
significantpartofhisincomefromillegalorunethicalschemesandconspiracies,themost
blatantofwhichwasnotpayingincometax.

CohninitiatedTrumpintothehighlifeandlowdownatthehottestclubintown,Studio54.
WhatwentoninStudio54willnever,everhappenagain,Trumptoldajournalistmuch
later.

Firstofall,youdidnthaveAids.Youdidnthavetheproblemsyoudohavenow.
IsawthingshappeningtherethattothisdayIhaveneverseenagain.Iwould
watchsupermodelsgettingscrewed,wellknownsupermodelsgettingscrewedon
abenchinthemiddleoftheroom.Thereweresevenofthemandeachonewas
gettingscrewedbyadifferentguy.Thiswasinthemiddleoftheroom.Stuffthat
couldnthappentodaybecauseofproblemsofdeath.

Cohngreasedtheskidswithfavours.Igottoknoweverybody,Trumpsaid.Cohnarranged
fortheMobtoconstructTrumpstowersandprovideprotectionagainstlabourtrouble.You
knowhowmanylawyersinNewYorkrepresentorganisedcrimefigures?Doesthatmean
werenotsupposedtousethem?Trumpasked.CohnthreatenedtosueanyoneinTrumps
waytosecureleasesonpropertiesandcitytaxabatements.Hewrotetheprenuptial
agreementstipulatingthatTrumpsfirstwife,Ivana,wouldreturnallgiftsintheeventofa
divorce,andcoercedhertosignCohnhadsuggestedanassociatetoserveasherlawyer.(I
wouldneverbuyIvanaanydecentjewelsorpictures.Whygivehernegotiableassets?Trump
toldhisfriends,accordingtoVanityFair.)AndCohnfinagledafederaljudgeshipfor
Trumpssister,MaryanneTrumpBarry.WhenanyoneresistedTrumpsdemands,hewaved
Cohnspictureintheirface.Wouldyouratherdealwithhim?hewouldsay.

TheStateofNewYorkdisbarredCohnin1986forunethicalandunprofessionalbehaviour
describedinthejudgmentasparticularlyreprehensible.Amonthlater,hediedofAids,an
illnesshetriedtoconceal(hetoldTrumphehadcancer).Hewasanoutrageousracistand
selfloathingJew,freelyspewingepithetsaboutniggersandkikes.Hewasalsoaselfhating
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homosexual,whoobsessivelydenouncedfagsandcrusadedagainstgayrights.Whenhewas
dyingTrumpturnedawayfromhim,shiftinghisbusinesstootherlawyers.Icantbelievehes
doingthistome,Cohnsaid.Donaldpissesicewater.CohncalledTrumptoaskhimtofind
aroominoneofhishotelsforCohnsformerloverandassistant,neardeathhimselffrom
Aids.TrumpgothimatackyroomandsentCohnthebills.Cohnrefusedtopay.Trumps
underlingscalledtoevictthedyingman.TheonlysurprisingpartofthestoryisCohnsshock.

CohnmadeanafterlifeappearanceasamajorcharacterinTonyKushnersAngelsin
America:AGayFantasiaonNationalThemes,stagedin1993andproducedasaTV
miniseriesin2003.DyingofAidsanddisbarred,Cohndenieshishomosexuality,attemptsto
hoardanexperimentaldrug,andfindshimselfinahospitalbedcaredforbyanursewhoisa
dragqueen.EthelRosenberghoversasaghosttohaunthimandinhisdeathscenechants
theKaddishasanactofmercyoverhisunrepentantsoul.

AttheheightoftheColdWar,RichardCondonsTheManchurianCandidatelaidouta
Russianconspiracytoelectamalleablepresident.RaymondShaw,aUSarmysergeant
duringtheKoreanWar,iscapturedandbrainwashedalongwiththeothermembersofhis
unitinManchuria.Hiscomradesareprogrammedtotestifyfalselytohisbravery,forwhich
hewinstheCongressionalMedalofHonor.RaymondShawisthekindest,warmest,bravest,
mostwonderfulhumanbeingIveeverknowninmylife,theyalldeclare.TheAmericanwar
heroisturnedintoaRussiansleeperagent,groomedtoassassinatethepresidentialnominee
attheconvention.ButMajorBenMarco,aformermemberofhisarmyunit,breaksthrough
hisbrainwashingandsoinsteadofmurderingthenomineeShaw,shootshismother,who
hadbeencontrollinghimthroughout,alongwithhisidioticstepfather.Decadeslater,
CondonexplainedtheinspirationfortheperversedynamicbetweenRaymondShawandhis
mother.RaymondsmotherisRoyCohn,andherhusbandJohnnyisMcCarthy.Iwas
fascinatedbytheverystrangerelationshipbetweenCohnandthesenator.RoyranMcCarthy,
totallydominatedhim.

WhatCohnwouldhavemadeofDonaldTrumpsromancewithVladimirPutinisanybodys
guess.TheRedhuntermighthavebeenappalledathisclientbecominganagentofinfluence
fortheformeragentoftheKGB.ButCohnmighthaveapproved.Afterhedeparted,Trump
fellandrose,hisresurrectionpartlyfinancedbyclandestineloansfromRussianbankslinked
toastategovernedonMafiaprinciples.Duringthe2016campaign,Putinappearstohave
providedassistancetoTrumpthroughtheRussianintelligenceserviceshackingofthe
DemocraticNationalCommitteeandtheClintoncampaign,andhispoliticalmodelmayserve
assomethingofaninspirationtoo.Trumpsbusinesshasalwaysoperatedorganisationally
likeaprototypicalMafia,withatightcircleoffamily,friendsandflunkies,bearinglittle
resemblancetoamoderncorporation.AsMashaGessenputitintheNewYorkReviewof
Books,borrowingfromtheHungariansociologistBlintMagyar,thepostcommunistmafia

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stateisrunlikeafamilybyapatriarchwhodistributesmoney,powerandfavours.Usually,
thefamilyisbuiltonloyalty,notbloodrelations,butTrumpisbringinghisliteralfamilyinto
theWhiteHouse.Byinvitingafewhandpickedpeopleintotheareasthatinteresthim
personally,hemaybecreatingamafiastatewithinastate.Hehaslongbeenattractedto
authoritarianism.Inhis1990interviewwithPlayboyheexpressedadmirationfortheChinese
governmentsviolentrepressionofthedemocracymovement.Whenthestudentspouredinto
TiananmenSquare,theChinesegovernmentalmostblewit,hesaid.Thentheywerevicious,
theywerehorrible,buttheyputitdownwithstrength.Thatshowsyouthepowerofstrength.
Ourcountryisrightnowperceivedasweakasbeingspatonbytherestoftheworld.

Talkofamafiastateechoesanotherperiodsfearsoffascism.In1935,fascistfigures
emergednotjustinEuropebutinAmerica.FatherCharlesCoughlinheldmillionsofhis
radioflockinthrallwithjeremiadsagainstbankers,liberalsandJews,andenlistedtheminto
hisUnionforSocialJustice.TheDuPontsandotherwealthyconservativesfinancedthe
AmericanLibertyLeaguetocampaignagainsttheNewDealasunAmerican,spendingtwice
asmuchastheRepublicanParty.WilliamRandolphHearstlikenedRoosevelttoKarlMarx
imported,autocratic,Asiaticanddeclared:WheneveryouhearaprominentAmerican
calledaFascist,youcanusuallymakeupyourmindthatthemanissimplyaLOYAL
CITIZENWHOSTANDSFORAMERICANISM.

Itwasinthiscombustibleenvironmentthatthemostcelebratedwriteroftheday,Sinclair
Lewis,thefirstAmericanwritertowintheNobelPrize,voicedhissenseofimminent
catastropheintheAmericanheartland.LewisspreviousnovelsMainStreet,Babbitt,Elmer
GantryandArrowsmithhadsatirisedthehypocriticalmannersandmoralsofsmalltown
life.Hepuncturedthesuffocatingprejudices,meanspiritednessandcrushedidealisminthe
nativist,isolationistandProhibitionistAmericaoftheRepublicandominated1920s.His
characterswerestudiesintheculturalconstraintsoftheage.TherewasnotaGatsbyamong
them.Now,hisalternativehistoryshowedhowthepeopleofMainStreetmightfareinthe
faceofhomegrownfascism.InItCantHappenHere,ithappenedhere.

FDRlosesreelectionin1936,defeatedbySenatorBerzeliusBuzzWindrip,aProfessional
CommonMan,whopledgesareturntofoundingprinciples.Heembodieseveryprejudice
andaspirationofeveryAmericanCommonMantheCommonMantwentytimes
magnifiedbyhisoratory,sothatwhiletheotherCommonerscouldunderstandhisevery
purpose,whichwasexactlythesameastheirown,theysawhimtoweringamongthem,and
theyraisedhandstohiminworship.Atabloidjournalist,LeeSarason,generatesablizzard
ofpropagandaandghostwritesWindripsmanifesto,ZeroHour:OvertheTop,excerpts
fromwhichappearaschapterepigraphs.Inthelittletowns,ah,thereistheabidingpeace
thatIlove,andthatcanneverbedisturbedbyeventhenoisiestSmartAlecksfromthese
haughtymegalopoliseslikeWashington,NewYork,&etc.SarasonhadencouragedWindrip
tokeepupintheGreatWorldalloftheclownishnesswhichhadendearedhimtohis
simpleheartedconstituents.AradiopreacherdeployshisLeagueofForgottenMenbehind
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Windrip.AmongWindripscampfollowersareIntellectualsandReformersandeven
RuggedIndividualists,whosawinWindrip,forallhisclownishswinderlerism,afreevigour
whichpromisedarejuvenationofthecrippledandsenilecapitalisticsystem.President
WindripannouncesanewCorporatiststate,suspendscivillibertiesandsendshismilitia,the
MinuteMen,toenforceorder.Sarasondirectspropaganda,tellingthemassestheywerethe
honouredfoundationstonesofanewCivilisationAndtheyhadtheJewsandtheNegroes
tolookdownon,moreandmoreEverymanisakingsolongashehassomeonetolook
downon.Windripspoliciesfailtodeliveronhisextravagantpromises.Dissidentsdisappear
intoconcentrationcamps.ANewUndergroundorganisesagainsttheregime.Sarasonstages
acoupandinstallshimselfaspresident.Thenhisally,GeneralDeweyHaik,oustshimand
invadesMexicotoarousepatrioticunity.Thecountrydescendsintocivilwar.Theend.

TheConfidenceMan:HisMasqueradewasthelastfulllengthbookHermanMelville
publishedinhislifetime.MobyDickhadbeenpoorlyreceivedandMelvillecouldnolonger
scrapebyonhiswriting.Aflatoutfailure,hewasabouttotakeajobasaclerkintheNew
YorkCustomsHouse.Hisnewbook,inspiredbyastoryhereadinanewspaper,takesplace
onAprilFoolsDay,whenamysteriousstrangerboardsaMississippisteamboatnamedthe
Fidle.WearealongwayfromthePequod.Theconfidencemanisanythingbutloyal.He
assumesdifferentguisesasheworkshiswaythroughthepassengers,fromthecosmopolitan
tothekindlyoldlady.ToonehesellsnonexistentsharesintheBlackRapidsCoalCompany.
HeinveiglesfundsfortheimaginarySeminoleWidowandOrphanAsylum.Hehitsupothers
forsomethinghecallstheWorldsCharity.Fromyetanotherhecoaxesmoneyforan
investmentinaProteaneasychairforinvalids.Wheneveranyofhisdupesbaulksheappeals
totheirsenseofconfidence,understandingthattheirweaknessistheirdesireforhope.
Writtenatthenadirofhisownhope,Melvillemaskedhisbitternesswithsatiricalhumour.
Thereviewsofhisplotlessandobliqueworkwereunkind.HewithdrewintotheCustoms
House.InTheRavenandtheWhale,thecriticPerryMillerwrote:Thefewcontemporaries
whoexaminedthebookwereinnopositiontoseeitas,whateverelseitis,alongfarewellto
nationalgreatness.Theonlycharacterwhoescapestheconfidencemansswindle,theonly
onetolackconfidence,isthesteamboatsbarber,whorefusestowieldhisscissorswithout
firstbeingpaid,andhashungalargesigninhisshopreading:NOTRUST.

Theoriginalversionofthispiececontainedtwopassagesthatrequirecorrectionand
clarification.AtthetimeoftheRoyCohnleaksmentioned,theNewYorkWorldTelegram
wasownednotbyHearstbutbyScrippsHoward.AparagraphreferringtoFredTrumps
campaignformayorofNewYork,althoughitaccuratelyreflectedTrumpsracialattitudes
andhishostilitytowardsMayorJohnLindsay,hasbeenremovedbecausethecampaignads
referredtoappeartobecleverfakes.

[*]Forthedocumentarytrail,seeWayneBarrettsTrump:TheGreatestShowonEarth
(1992)andDavidCayJohnstonsTheMakingofDonaldTrump(MelvilleHouse,288pp.,

https://www.lrb.co.uk/v39/n04/sidneyblumenthal/ashorthistoryofthetrumpfamily 18/19
2/13/2017 SidneyBlumenthalAShortHistoryoftheTrumpFamily:TheFirstFamilyLRB16February2017

18.99,August2016,9781612196329).

Vol.39No.416February2017SidneyBlumenthalAShortHistoryoftheTrumpFamily
pages3237|9926words

ISSN02609592CopyrightLRBLimited2017 ^Top

https://www.lrb.co.uk/v39/n04/sidneyblumenthal/ashorthistoryofthetrumpfamily 19/19