By Steven Jonas
If you are going to read just one (or one more) book about Donald Trump and his
character, what drives him, what explains his behavior in all the realms of his
life (at least in the ones of which we are aware), I strongly recommend Commander
in Cheat: How Golf Explains Trump (Hachette Books, 2019) by the golf
writer, Rick Reilly, associated for a long time with Sports Illustrated and
ESPN.
Golf has been an integral part of Trump's life since he was a
youngster, both as a player and later as a golf-course owner. In both realms of golf, Trump is a master
cheat, bully, liar, and tall story teller.
Reilly has many illustrations of Trump's behavior, on the course, in the
club houses, and in the owner's offices/suites.
The book is filled with humor, which makes it an easy read. But of course, the subject is deadly serious
and Reilly is serious about his work as a journalist.
By the way, this Is not a gossip book. It is a work of journalism, filled with personal
observations, confirmation of the stories told by others from well-known
professional golfers, to members of Trump golf clubs, to a variety of amateurs
and entertainment types who have played with him, to caddies, both Trump's and
other's, and double-checking. It is
most revealing about Trump the person, as well as Trump the golfer and Trump
the golf-businessman. And, the humor to
the contrary not-withstanding, it is a scary book, which I think Mr. Reilly
intended it to be.
Mr. Reilly begins the book with a quote from the English author
and humorist
P.G. Wodehouse : "To find a man's true character, play golf with him." While many a famous person in golf played with him, learned his true
character, and still associated their name with his for one reason or another,
one of the most famous names in golf, who associated his own name with a variety
of golfing and non-golfing products, was once asked by Trump to join in a business
venture with him. The man said,
"OK. Let's play a round." After it, he just walked away and never spoke
with Trump again.
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