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ACCORDING TO A 1990 Vanity Fair interview, Ivana Trump once told her lawyer Michael Kennedy that her husband, real-estate mogul Donald Trump, now a leading Republican presidential candidate, kept a book of Hitler’s speeches near his bed.
“Last April, perhaps in a surge of Czech nationalism, Ivana Trump told her lawyer Michael Kennedy that from time to time her husband reads a book of Hitler’s collected speeches, My New Order, which he keeps in a cabinet by his bed … Hitler’s speeches, from his earliest days up through the Phony War of 1939, reveal his extraordinary ability as a master propagandist,” Marie Brenner wrote.
Hitler was one of history’s most prolific orators, building a genocidal Nazi regime with speeches that bewitched audiences.
“He learned how to become a charismatic speaker, and people, for whatever reason, became enamored with him,” Professor Bruce Loebs, who has taught a class called the Rhetoric of Hitler and Churchill for the past 46 years at Idaho State University, told Business Insider earlier this year.
“People were most willing to follow him, because he seemed to have the right answers in a time of enormous economic upheaval.”
When Brenner asked Trump about how he came to possess Hitler’s speeches, “Trump hesitated” and then said, “Who told you that?”
“I don’t remember,” Brenner reportedly replied.
Trump then recalled, “Actually, it was my friend Marty Davis from Paramount who gave me a copy of ‘Mein Kampf,’ and he’s a Jew.”
Brenner added that Davis did acknowledge that he gave Trump a book about Hitler.
“But it was ‘My New Order,’ Hitler’s speeches, not ‘Mein Kampf,’” Davis reportedly said.
“I thought he would find it interesting. I am his friend, but I’m not Jewish.”
After Trump and Brenner changed topics, Trump returned to the subject and reportedly said, “If, I had these speeches, and I am not saying that I do, I would never read them.”
Here’s the entire Vanity Fair interview.
- Amanda Macias for Business Insider
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I think #TheDonald(really!?!?) is as batshit crazy as they come…
But quote from estranged wife going through bitter, high profile divorce of billionaire husband in an interview for glossy magazine/tabloid. Is hardly something I’d consider as a credible source….
Drew — The scary part is he’s not crazy at all.
Even if he did, I don’t see the problem. Hitler’s policies were insane but he was an incredible orator. People have been studying him for public speaking and propaganda techniques for decades.
At least it’s not a copy of the speeches and statements of Charles J. Haughey. He could pick up this copy for a mere €250… http://touch.adverts.ie/other-antiques-collectables/charles-haughey-autographed-book-of-collected-speeches/8546106
To suggest that we should not study or analyse Hitler because of the evil he perpetuated is ironically almost fascist censorship. It is conversely why he must be studied and understood. Hitler seemed able to tap into the mass psychology of the German people and steer it in a direction of his choosing. No one can ignore the horrific events he was responsible for but he is probably the most infamous name the world will ever see and a fascinating character.
Coming from an Ex, I’m not surprised she says he’s a nazi, my ex’s would all say the same about me
His supporters will be more upset that he’s an actual book reader.
Maybe he just looked at the pictures
“If, I had these speeches, and I am not saying that I do, I would never read them.”
Well he’s getting the hang of denying like a real politician at least.
Nothing like a US election to air the dirty laundry!
in fairness. I’m no Nazi but u do have books with some of hitters speeches in them. This story is just inflammatory nonsense. also I hope trump crashes and burns in the election.
I saw the headline and thought this was Waterford Whispers.
Trump read something written by Hitler..
This can only mean that..
TRUMP IS REALLY HITLER IN DISGUISE!!
SHOCKING!!!!!!
The world is fooked anyway….. GO TRUMP!!!
i think its interesting that at the same time trump is trying to become president i saw a stat that half the worlds money is owned by 80 people!!! is trump one of the 80??
The statistic is that the richest 80 people in the world are as rich as the poorest 50% – not that the top 80 own 50% of the world’s money.
And anyway, Trump’s not one of the 80.
http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/meet-the-80-people-who-are-as-rich-as-half-the-world/
Heil hydra! – John Garrett, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Mein Komb-uber
The majority of Americans wouldn’t even know who Hitler was. They don’t care and if they vote Trump or Clinton in , they deserve them.
In fairness, how many Brits do you recon know the name Hirohito? It works both ways.
@Jason Culligan: They’d probably think he was a new striker for Celtic!
There is no reason whatsoever not to read those books!
You’d be surprised how irrational people can get on the subject of Hitler, especially when any sort of praise may factor into it. In America it would be a difficult proposition to state publicly that Hitler was a great orator and propagandist as people will genuinely take that as support for Hitler as a whole.
Could explain why he couldn’t give his favourite bible quote
Probably because he knows that there really isn’t a sky fairy. Won’t go down well in the bible belt but who really cares!?
If I read a story about IRA/SF in the Journal does that make me an IRA/SF supporter?
A story about Donald Trump and you still can’t help mentioning Sinn Féin, I don’t like the Shinners myself but you have a complete obsession. Your irritating insistence on mentioning them everywhere even on completely unrelated articles is incredibly annoying and doing far more damage to your cause than good.
The subject of the analogy might not be to your liking but the remark is very relevant. I will not be dictated to by the likes of Fiachra with his new Twitter account.
Yeah Fiachra , how dare you.Your Twitter account must be at least 30 days old before you dictate to Pat Lyons or any of his Jornal multi- accounts. poor Pat.
My Twitter account is actually about a year old at this stage.
Pat, isn’t this your third account after previously being banned on other accounts?
It’s rhetorical by the way, we all know the answer.
One way to understand how your enemy thinks?
have your say