Thomas Dunne, perhaps the ablest publisher in New York, deserves all the credit for the conception of this work. He and editor Peter Joseph made it much better with their excisions, queries, and suggestions.
My research began with a shelfful of preceding works, including books by Wayne Barrett, Harry Hurt, and Gwenda Blair, who established the Trump record of the 1900s. Wayne and Harry were both generous with their time and shared supporting documents that they had preserved. (Wayne even turned me loose in his voluminous and valuable archive.) I received additional kind assistance from fellow writers Neil Barsky, Tom Fitzsimmons, and Liz Smith, who is also an officially recognized living landmark of New York City. Timothy L. O’Brien’s provocative TrumpNation proved informative when it comes to the Trump style, as did Donald’s own books, most especially his first, Trump: The Art of the Deal.
In addition to an armful of books, articles, and brochures, Donald Trump gave me and my colleague, Mark D’Agostino, about ten hours of his time. Our interview sessions, which took place in his Trump Tower home, were not governed by any explicit ground rules, but at times Donald did insist some comments were “off the record.” Fortunately these numbered less than a handful, and the restriction did not affect either the tone or quality of the account I was able to make of his life. He was the first person I ever interviewed, in more than thirty years of this work, whoever demanded secrecy after he said something good about himself.
Besides Donald, I received the help of various Trumps, including his children Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. Their mother, Ivana, was also generous with her time, and so too was the second Mrs. Trump, Marla Maples. In the Trump Organization offices I found all of the executives, especially Rhona Graff, George Sorial, and Meredith McIver, generous and accommodating. They were most helpful in providing me with background materials and connecting me to Theodore Dobias and Robert Utsey, who discussed Donald Trump’s early years.
Many people agreed to be interviewed for this book, and most spoke without reservation. They are quoted in these pages and I am grateful for their help. I owe special thanks to a handful of Scots, including researcher/writer Andy Wightman, Martin and Gina Ford, David and Moira Milne, and Michael and Sheila Forbes. Bill Lawson, genealogist on the Isle of Lewis, provided detailed information on the MacLeod clan of Tong, and I was informed about Aberdeen, city and shire, by Councilor John Cox and Robert Collier of the Chamber of Commerce.
I also received reliable, timely, and thorough assistance from Dunstan Prial, Jonathan Anzalone, Amy Choi, Jeff Katz, and Laura Tillman. Amy D’Antonio offered both her editorial services and her perspective on key concepts. Copy editor Steve Boldt taught me tricks that, as an old dog, I should already know.
Most of all this work has been informed by a decades-long conversation about ideas, psychological concepts, and the human heart with my most important ally and collaborator, Toni Raiten-D’Antonio.