♪ [THEME MUSIC] ♪
>> I AM JIM ZIRIN.
WELCOME BACK TO MORE
CONVERSATIONS.
A BRILLIANT BOOK ENTITLED
"GOLDEN HANDCUFFS: THE SECRET
HISTORY OF TRUMP'S WOMEN" BY
NINA BURLEIGH EXPLORES TRUMP'S
ATTITUDE TOWARDS WOMEN, BY
PROVIDING IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS AND
BACKGROUND ON THE WOMEN WHO HAVE
HAD THE MOST PROFOUND INFLUENCE
ON HIS LIFE.
NINA WRITES THAT HE TRASHED THE
APPEARANCE OF WOMAN AFTER WOMAN,
CHEATED ON ALL THREE OF HIS
WIVES, BRUSHED OFF ACCUSATIONS
OF SEXUAL ASSAULT,
PUBLICLY -- HIS ELDEST DAUGHTER,
BOUGHT THE SILENCE OF A PORN
STAR AND A PLAYMATE WITH WHOM
HE ALLEGEDLY HAD CONGRESS
AND BRAGGED
ABOUT HIS SEDUCTION TECHNIQUE,
CLAIMING THERE IS NOBODY THAT
HAS MORE RESPECT FOR WOMEN THAN
I DO.
NINA BURLEIGH IS WITH US.
THIS IS A SUPERB BOOK.
IT IS AN INTERESTING SUBJECT,
VERY RELEVANT.
WHAT LED YOU TO WRITE THIS BOOK
AND WHY NOW?
>> I WAS IN THE HILTON THE
NIGHT OF THE ELECTION, WATCHING
TRUMP, WHO HAD BEEN ELECTED
PRESIDENT, WALK ON THE STAGE,
TRAILED BY A FOLLOWING OF
GAZELLE-LIKE WOMEN ON FOUR-INCH
HEELS.
ALL OF THEM LOOKING SIMILAR,
BEAUTIFULLY IRONED HAIR,
MODEL, CAMERA-READY FACES, SHORT
DRESSES.
I THOUGHT -- WHO ARE THESE
WOMEN?
WHAT WOULD MAKE THEM
STICK WITH THIS MAN WHO HAD BEEN
ACCUSED BY 19 WOMEN OF
AGGRESSIVE ACTS?
FURTHERMORE, THE ABRUPT CHANGE
WITHIN ONE HOUR OF AMERICAN
WOMEN EXPECTING, MANY EXPECTING
TO HAVE, AS THEIR EMISSARY TO
THE WORLD AND LEADER OF THIS
COUNTRY, A WOMAN, THE FIRST
FEMALE PRESIDENT.
AND, WITHIN AN HOUR, THAT HAD
SWITCHED TO KNOW, THE PUBLIC
FACE OF AMERICAN WOMANHOOD IS
THE BRANDED TRUMP FEMALE, THESE
WOMEN WHO HAVE REMADE THEMSELVES
OR MADE THEMSELVES INTO PARAGONS
OF THE TRUMPIAN VISION OF THE
PERFECT WOMAN, THIS ARCHAIC
COMBINATION OF
HUGH HEFNER "PLAYBOY" BUNNY GIRL
NEXT-DOOR/VEGAS
SHOWGIRL/PLAYMATE/MODEL.
THAT WOMAN IS NOW THE ROLE MODEL
FOR OUR DAUGHTERS.
>> MISS UNIVERSE.
>> MISS UNIVERSE, I COULD
HAVE STAYED HOME AND BAKED
COOKIES TO WEARING FOUR-INCH
HEELS AND PARTICIPATING IN THE
COMMODIFICATION OF
THE FEMININE FOR DECADES.
THOSE ARE NOW OUR ROLE MODELS
FOR OUR DAUGHTERS AND THE PUBLIC
FACE OF AMERICAN WOMANHOOD.
I THOUGHT IT WAS WORTH
EXPLORING.
>> HOW WOULD YOU RATE IVANKA
FROM ONE TO 10, AND
EXTRAORDINARY STATEMENT FOR A
MAN TO MAKE ABOUT HIS DAUGHTER.
BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, I AM
INTRIGUED WITH TITLES.
HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH
"GOLDEN HANDCUFFS?"
>> I WAS USING THE TITLE
"QUEENS OF TRUMPLAND."
A GENIUS AT SIMON & SCHUSTER
CAME UP WITH THIS TITLE.
ILLUSION TO THE 2013 -- TAPE
IS NOT ACCIDENTAL.
IT IS A REFERENCE TO THE IDEA OF
-- THE METAPHOR FOR HAVING A JOB
YOU HATE, BUT YOU CANNOT WALK
AWAY FROM IT BECAUSE THE MONEY
IS TOO GOOD.
>> YOU HAVE DONE A LOT OF
RESEARCH ON TRUMP.
TRUMP WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE
RITZ-CARLTON TAPE AND ITS
EXISTENCE AND WHAT IT MIGHT
SHOW.
HE ASKED JIM COMEY ABOUT IT FOUR
TIMES.
DO YOU THINK IT COULD HAVE
HAPPENED?
>> THERE IS EVERY POSSIBILITY
THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF TAPES.
HE IS SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN
WATCHED FOR A LONG TIME BY THE
RUSSIANS.
THEY HAVE BEEN PAYING CLOSE
ATTENTION TO HIM SINCE IVANA.
FIRST WIFE, CZECHOSLOVAKIAN,
RAISED BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN.
HE WOULD HAVE NEVER GONE TO
RUSSIA HAD HE NOT BEEN MARRIED
TO IVANA.
SHE SMOOTHED THE WAY FOR THIS
PROVINCIAL QUEENS BOY TO BECOME
COMFORTABLE WITH SLAVIC PEOPLE.
HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN
CZECHOSLOVAKIA.
HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN
IN RUSSIA IN 1987 HAD SHE NOT
BEEN IN HIS LIFE.
I HAVE HIS FAMILY MEMBERS WHO
AGREE WITH ME ON THAT.
>> BEFORE WE GET TO HIS WIVES,
PERHAPS WE COULD START WITH THE
ELDEST EVIDENCE OF A WOMAN IN
HIS LIFE, HIS GRANDMOTHER.
WHAT DID YOUR RESEARCH UNCOVER
ABOUT ELIZABETH?
>> FASCINATING STORY.
A LOT OF THE RESEARCH INTO
ELIZABETH CHRIS TRUMP COMES FROM
A BIOGRAPHY.
THE SOURCES ON HER, IN THE TOWN
IN GERMANY WHERE THE TRUMPS ARE
FROM, ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT
AROUND ANYMORE.
ELIZABETH CHRIS TRUMP WAS THE
GIRL NEXT-DOOR GROWING UP WHEN
FREDERICK TRUMP, TRUMP'S
GRANDFATHER LEFT THIS TINY TOWN
IN GERMANY TO COME TO THE UNITED
STATES BY HIMSELF TO MAKE HIS
FORTUNE RUNNING SALOON BROTHELS
AROUND THE GOLD RUSH AREA IN
SEATTLE AND THEN IN THE YUKON.
HE MARRIED THE GIRL NEXT DOOR,
THIS CHINA DOLL BEAUTY,
BLUE-EYED, BLOND HAIR.
YOU SEE HER IN TIFFANY, IVANKA,
AND ERIC.
SHE MARRIES FREDERICK.
SUDDENLY SHE IS IN
IMMIGRANT-FILLED NEW YORK.
SHE HAS THREE CHILDREN.
SHE WANTS TO GO HOME.
SHE HAS TRIED TO GO HOME THREE
OR FOUR TIMES, TO GERMANY.
WHEN HE WAS MAKING HIS
--, HE EVADED MILITARY
SERVICE.
THEY WOULD NOT LET HIM COME
BACK.
SHE WAS STUCK HERE.
FREDERICK DIES OF THE SPANISH
FLU.
SHE IS LEFT HERE ALL ALONE.
SHE IS GERMAN-SPEAKING.
AFTER WORLD WAR I, GERMANS WERE
NOT WELL-LIKED.
SHE HAS PROPERTY IN QUEENS.
SHE INCORPORATED THE TRUMP
COMPANY AND STARTED THE
BOROUGH BUILD MODE OF
DEVELOPMENT THAT BECAME THE
BASIS OF THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION.
>> DONALD TRUMP DISPUTES THAT.
>> HE DOES NOT DISPUTE IT.
I DO NOT THINK HE WAS
CHALLENGED, BUT HE GIVES ALL
CREDIT TO HIS FATHER, FREDERICK.
FREDERICK WAS 13 WHEN SHE
INCORPORATED.
THERE IS NO WAY THAT CONCEPT
CAME FROM THE MIND OF A
13-YEAR-OLD.
AS SOON AS HE WAS OUT OF HIGH
SCHOOL, HE WENT STRAIGHT TO
WORK.
FRED TRUMP WAS AN INDUSTRIOUS
AND THRIFTY MAN.
HE WAS AN INDUSTRIOUS YOUNG MAN.
HE WENT OUT AND STARTED BUILDING
THESE HOUSES AFTER SHE
STARTED THE COMPANY.
>> THEN YOU HAVE HIS MOTHER,
MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS.
>> MARY MACLEOD CAME FROM A
TINY ISLAND.
AROUND THE TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY,
SHE WAS THE 10TH CHILD OF A
FISHERMAN'S FAMILY, LIVING IN A
TWO-BEDROOM PEAT HEATED
COTTAGE.
THERE WERE NOT A LOT OF MEN ON
THE ISLAND.
A NUMBER OF MEN DIED IN A
SHIPWRECK OFF THE COAST AFTER
COMING BACK FROM THE WAR.
THESE GIRLS, GROWING UP, THERE
WAS A SHORTAGE OF HUSBAND
MATERIAL.
SHE CAME TO THE UNITED STATES, A
PLACE WHERE SCOTS WERE BEING
HIRED AS FOOTMEN AND NANNIES AND
BUTLERS IN THE GREAT HOUSES OF
NEW YORK.
I COULD NOT BELIEVE, WHEN I WENT
TO THE LIBRARY AND LOOKED IN
THE CENSUS TO FIND OUT WHERE
SHE LIVED, SHE MOVED INTO THE
CARNEGIE MANSION.
SHE WAS A MAID.
SHE WAS POLISHING BANISTERS,
POLISHING SILVER.
THAT EXPERIENCE, I BELIEVE,
TURNED HER INTO A PERSON WHO WAS
OBSESSED WITH THE ROYAL,
OBSESSED WITH
TRAPPINGS OF ROYALTY.
>> STATUS.
>> STATUS, THAT IS WHERE SHE
GOT THE OBSESSION WITH WATCHING
QUEEN ELIZABETH.
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM FRED
TRUMP.
SHE HAD AN INTEREST IN APTITUDE
AND YEARNING FOR THE TRAPPINGS
OF WEALTH AND LUXURY, AND THAT
IS DONALD TRUMP'S ROSEBUD.
HIS CRAVING FOR LUXURY AND
CLASS.
THAT IS WHY YOU HAVE, EVERY TIME
HIS NAME IS ON A BUILDING.
HIS CLAIMS THE TRUMP NAME EQUALS
LUXURY.
YOU SEE IVANKA SAYING IT IN HER
BOOK.
THEY BELIEVE THE NAME IS
EQUIVALENT WITH LUXURY AND THAT
COMES FROM THE GRANDMOTHER.
>> THIS IS HARDLY A MAN
WHO TRACES HIS ANCESTRY BACK
TO THE MAYFLOWER PILGRIM.
>> YOU HAVE HIS DAUGHTER
SAYING THEY ARE AMERICA'S
ROYAL FAMILY AND THEY
BELIEVE THAT.
>> TRUMP HAS A GRANDMOTHER, HE
GROWS UP, IT COMES TIME FOR A
MAN TO LEAVE HIS FATHER AND TAKE
A WIFE.
WHO IS HIS FIRST WIFE?
>> IVANA.
>> SHE IS THE CZECH.
SKI CHAMPION.
>> TWO OF HIS WIVES ARE JAMES
BOND GIRL VILLAIN MATERIAL.
THE FIRST COMES FROM
CZECHOSLOVAKIA TO CANADA AND
CANADA TO NEW YORK, SHE WAS
LEGGY, BLONDE, BEAUTIFUL.
SHE SHOWS UP AT THE FAMOUS
SINGLES BAR.
>> NO LONGER EXISTS.
>> THAT IS WHERE SHE FIRST
ENCOUNTERS THE MAN OF HER DREAMS
AND HIS MAROON SUIT AND
MATCHING MAROON LIMO.
UNLIKE THE NEW YORK
SOPHISTICATES WHO LOOK AT HIM
AND SNEER, THIS WOMAN DID NOT
UNDERSTAND ANY OF THOSE MARKERS
AND SHE THOUGHT HE WAS THE BEE'S
KNEES.
THE VERY BEST AMERICAN MANHOOD
HAD TO OFFER.
HE PURSUED HER FOR A YEAR AND
SHE FINALLY SAID YES AND THEY
GOT MARRIED ON THE UPPER
EASTSIDE AT AN EVENT FILLED WITH
FRED TRUMP'S POLITICAL
ASSOCIATES.
SHE HAD MAYBE THREE OF HER OWN
FRIENDS THERE.
SHE MARRIES INTO THIS FAMILY AND
SOON AFTER --
>> BEFORE SHE MARRIES,
SOMETHING IMPORTANT HAS TO
HAPPEN.
THAT IS CALLED A PRENUP.
>> DRAWN BY ROY COHN.
FIRST OF MANY PRENUPS.
HE PROPOSES MARRIAGE, HIS LAWYER
IS ROY COHN.
THE INFAMOUS MOB LAWYER.
AN INFAMOUS FIGURE IN NEW YORK
POLITICAL HISTORY.
HE ADVISES TRUMP -- HE SAYS, DO
NOT GET MARRIED, THAT IS NOT A
GOOD IDEA.
HE WAS CLOSETED GAY AND PROBABLY
IN LOVE WITH DONALD ANYWAY.
HE SAID DO NOT GET MARRIED, BUT
IF YOU ARE GOING TO GET MARRIED,
YOU NEED A CONTRACT.
IT ALMOST CAPSIZED THE PLANS.
SHE DID NOT LIKE WHAT THEY WERE
ASKING HER TO SIGN.
SHE WAS ABLE TO FIGHT BACK AND
GET MAD MONEY WRITTEN INTO IT.
THE ORIGINAL DEAL WAS,
SHE HAD TO GIVE ALL OF HIS GIFTS
BACK.
>> $25,000?
>> IT WAS A VERY LOW AMOUNT.
>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT HER
ANSWER WAS WHEN SHE OBJECTED
TO THE TERMS?
>> I DO NOT REMEMBER.
>> HE SAID YOU KNOW ROY COHN.
I DON'T LIKE IT, BUT THIS IS
WHAT --
>> HE MADE HER HIS INTERIOR
DESIGNER.
HE PUT HER ON WITH THESE
BUILDINGS.
EVENTUALLY, SHE TURNED OUT TO BE
A VERY GOOD MANAGER OF
EMPLOYEES.
SHE DESIGNED THE PLAZA HOTEL.
SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LOOK
OF THE LOBBY IN TRUMP TOWER.
HE PUT HER IN CHARGE OF THE
CASINOS IN ATLANTIC CITY.
HE PUT HER IN CHARGE OF THE
PLAZA.
BY THAT TIME, SHE WAS STARTING
TO GET CREDIT FOR BEING THE
WOMAN BEHIND THE COMPANY.
SHE WAS SO SUCCESSFUL AND GOOD
AT GETTING PRESS.
THE PRESS -- OBSESSED WITH
THIS PAIR BECAUSE THEY WERE OVER
THE TOP.
HE BOUGHT MAR-A-LAGO AT THIS
POINT AND HE HAD HIS YACHT.
SHE WAS A YUPPIE WIFE, HIS
CAREER WOMAN WIFE, AND HE DID
NOT LIKE HEADLINES ABOUT HOW
GOOD SHE WAS AT HER JOB.
THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE
END.
IT COLLAPSED BECAUSE HE FOUND
SOMEONE MORE PLIANT.
HE HAD MANY MISTRESSES.
MARLA MAPLES REALLY HUNG ON.
SHE WANTED TO BE AN ACTRESS, A
MODEL.
WITH HER, HIS ENTIRE BUSINESS
CAPSIZED.
THIS IS WHEN HE GOES FROM
MARRIED AND HAVING A THRIVING
BUSINESS WITH ALL OF THESE TOYS
TO $900 MILLION IN DEBT AND THIS
VERY DEMANDING MISTRESS, WHO HE
IS HAVING TO HIDE.
HE OPENS THE RELATIONSHIP TO THE
PUBLIC AND HE STARTS TO, EVEN
THOUGH HE IS IN A DISASTROUS
MOMENT, THE EXPERIENCE OF HAVING
TO DEAL WITH THE PRESS IN THAT
TIME, HE LEARNED TO BE HIS OWN
FAKE PR MAN.
HE ROSE TO THE PR CHALLENGE.
>> MARLA SAID IT WAS THE BEST
SEX SHE EVER HAD.
>> PEOPLE SAY THAT WAS HIM
PHONING IN THAT QUOTE.
>> MARRIAGE TO IVANA LASTED
15 YEARS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THEN, HE MARRIES MARLA.
>> MARLA HAS GIVEN BIRTH.
HE IS A GERMOPHOBE.
HE IS REPELLED BY FEMALE
BIOLOGY.
SOMEHOW, SHE MANAGES TO TALK HIM
INTO BEING IN THE ROOM WHEN SHE
GAVE BIRTH TO TIFFANY.
THREE MONTHS LATER, THEY GOT
MARRIED, AGAIN, FILLED WITH
TRUMP C-LIST
HOLLYWOOD FOLKS.
BILL AND HILLARY ARE NOT AT THE
MARLA WEDDING.
O.J. SIMPSON WAS AT THE MARLA
WEDDING.
B LIST ACTORS FROM THE EARLY
90s.
HOWARD STERN WALKED IN AND SAID
I DO NOT THINK THIS IS GOING TO
LAST, -- AT THE WEDDING.
>> THAT ONLY LASTED SIX YEARS.
>> IT LASTED SLIGHTLY BEYOND
THE MOMENT IN WHICH THE MIAMI
BEACH POLICE FOUND HER AT 4:00
A.M. UNDER A LIFEGUARD STAND
WITH ONE OF HER BODYGUARDS.
THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE
END.
THAT PRENUP WAS MUCH MORE
STINGY.
I THINK SHE ONLY GOT $2 MILLION.
>> MELANIA COMES ON THE SCENE.
>> SHE WAS BORN IN A SHOE
FACTORY TOWN IN SLOVENIA.
HER FATHER WAS A GEARHEAD, A BIT
OF A THUG.
HE DROVE THE MAYOR AROUND, LIKED
TO COLLECT MERCEDES.
HER MOTHER WAS A PATTERN MAKER
AT A CLOTHING FACTORY.
SHE GREW UP IN A MIDDLE-CLASS,
NOT QUITE AS RESTRICTED AS THE
CZECHS, BECAUSE SLOVENIA WAS
PART OF YUGOSLAVIA AND THEY HAD
ACCESS TO THE WEST.
THESE PEOPLE WERE BEHIND THE
IRON CURTAIN, EVEN IN THE
1970s, HAVING A COCA-COLA WAS A
SPECIAL TREAT FOR HER.
GETTING WESTERN CLOTHES WAS A
SPECIAL TREAT.
GETTING TO CROSS THE BORDER INTO
ITALY AND BUY WESTERN-BRANDED
JEANS WAS A BIG DEAL.
SHE GREW UP, NOT A TERRIBLY
CURIOUS YOUNG WOMAN, --
FASHION, GOING TO SCHOOL WITH
HER SISTER WITH WHOM SHE IS
VERY CLOSE TO THIS DAY,
SHE GREW UP TO BE A STUNNING
YOUNG WOMAN.
BY THE AGE OF 16, A PHOTOGRAPHER
SPOTTED HER AND MADE A MODELING
PORTFOLIO FOR HER.
FROM THEN ON, SHE WAS ON A
CAREER PATH INTO THE MODELING
WORLD.
SHE ENDED UP IN MILAN, PARIS,
AND WASHED UP IN NEW YORK AROUND
1996 OR SO, AT A POINT IN WHICH
LOTS OF EASTERN EUROPEAN WOMEN
WERE COMING HERE TO ENTER THE
MODELING INDUSTRY OR BECOME
ACTRESSES.
THERE WERE SO MANY OF THEM
COMING IN THAT THE VALUE OF
THESE BEAUTIES WAS DROPPING.
SHE WAS ALREADY IN HER MID-20s.
IN THE MERCILESS MODELING
INDUSTRY, THAT IS TOO OLD.
WHEN SHE ARRIVED HERE, SHE
NEEDED SOMEBODY LIKE TRUMP, WHO
LIKED TO BRAND, MOLD, AND GET
DEALS FOR HIS WOMEN.
IT WAS A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN.
>> THAT MARRIAGE HAS LASTED 13
YEARS.
>> THEY HAVE BEEN TOGETHER
FOR LONGER THAN THAT.
SINCE AT LEAST 1996, LONGER THAN
THEY ADMIT TO HAVING KNOWN EACH
OTHER.
SHE ALREADY KNEW HIM IN 1996
WHEN SHE WAS TAKING THOSE
PHOTOGRAPHS.
>> HE HAS AN OBSESSION WITH
WOMEN IN HIS LIFE POSING NUDE.
HE WANTED MARLA MAPLES TO POSE
NUDE, SHE REFUSED TO DO IT.
MELANIA HAS POSED NUDE IN
PICTURES.
>> HE HAS LED THE BRANDING
AND COMMODIFICATION AND
PORNIFICATION OF WOMEN FOR
DECADES.
>> WHY DOES HE SAY SUCH
DISPARAGING THINGS ABOUT THEM?
STORMY DANIELS WAS HORSE FACE.
ELIZABETH WARREN IS POCAHONTAS.
>> THEY ARE FINE WHEN THEY
ARE PLIANT.
WHEN THEY REBEL, IT PROVOKES
PRIMAL ANGER, I THINK.
THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PLIANT.
>> DOES HE LIKE WOMEN OR DOES
HE HATE THEM?
>> I THINK HE LIKES WOMEN IN
HIS OWN WAY.
IF YOU SAT DOWN WITH HIM AND YOU
ARE A WOMAN AND YOU ARE NOT
ANTAGONIZING HIM, HE IS
CHARMING.
>> STORMY DANIELS' LAWYER
CALLS HIM A
DISGUSTING MISOGYNIST.
IS HE A DISGUSTING MISOGYNIST?
>> HE IS PRETTY DISGUSTING.
HE IS AN OAF.
IS HE A MISOGYNIST?
HIS BEHAVIOR INDICATES HE IS
MISOGYNISTIC AT A FUNDAMENTAL
LEVEL.
HE CANNOT LOOK AT WOMEN WITHOUT
-- HE DOES NOT LOOK AT WOMEN AS
FELLOW HUMANS.
THEY ARE SET PIECES FOR
BUSINESS.
THEY ARE THINGS TO LOOK AT TO
MAKE YOURSELF LOOK BETTER
BECAUSE YOUR FELLOW ENTERTAINERS
ARE GOING TO BE JEALOUS IF YOU
HAVE A BEAUTIFUL ONE NEXT TO
YOU.
IT IS ALL ABOUT THE FEMALE AS A
SET PIECE AND AN ACCESSORY.
THAT IS A MISOGYNISTIC ATTITUDE
TOWARDS WOMEN.
>> SET PIECES AND ACCESSORIES.
NINA BURLEIGH,
IT HAS BEEN MARVELOUS.
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR BOOK.
I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A
RED-HOT BESTSELLER.
THANK YOU FOR COMING BY.
TUNE IN NEXT WEEK FOR MORE
CONVERSATIONS.
I AM JIM ZIRIN.
TAKE CARE AND ALL THE BEST.
♪ [THEME MUSIC] ♪
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