The Donald Files: Madoff And Club Championship Exemption Edition

Deborah Soloman interviewed Donald Trump for the NY Times Sunday magazine and besides his hilarious stuff about how well his businesses are doing, there was this on Bernie Madoff and golf:

I hear you are personally acquainted with Bernie Madoff, who visited your country club in Palm Beach.

I met Madoff a number of times at Mar-a-Lago. He loved golf, and I’d also see him at my golf club, which is nearby. One time he said to me, “Why don’t you invest with me?” I said jokingly, “No thanks, I can lose my own money.”

What do you think will happen to Ruth Madoff?

The wife should be put in jail on the other side of the hallway from him. I think she’s guilty, his sons are guilty, and I think that many of the people in the firm are guilty. He had 16,000 clients, and he’s one man. What, he’s going to send out every envelope every week?

But perhaps my all time favorite Donald anecdote I actually read right over the first time through this piece. Thankfully reader Clark didn't miss this gem from Beth Ann Baldry's note on Morgan Pressel. The italics are mine (since I missed it the first time):

Morgan Pressel has stepped onto the caddie carousel. Her longtime caddie, Jon Yarbrough, told her in the offseason that he took a job on the PGA Tour. Pressel found a replacement in Dylan Vallequette, who then quit after Singapore to head for the European Tour.

So who’s the big guy on Pressel’s bag this week? Donald Trump’s caddie, Barry Cesarz. Pressel often practices at Trump International and asked Cesarz, nicknamed “The Rock,” whether he might be interested in carrying her bag for two weeks.

Cesarz agreed, even though it meant ducking out of the club championship. Trump gets a bye in the first two rounds, putting him straight into the semifinals.

“Ownership has its privileges,” Cesarz said. “I got a better offer. He understands.”

He gives himself a bye into the semis. Now that is one special man.