Ladies man: Trump has a mixed history with women

Washington - Trump cultivated an image as a womaniser ever since he was in an all-male military school in the 1960s, where he was dubbed a 'ladies' man'

Interviews with dozens of female employees who have worked for Donald Trump or interacted with him socially reveal a pattern of often unsettling personal behavior by the Republican presidential candidate, The New York Times reported on Saturday.

The thrice-married Trump, 69, cultivated an image as a womaniser ever since he was in an all-male military school in the 1960s, where he was dubbed a "ladies' man," the Times reported Saturday.

Trump in the New York Military Academy's 1964 yearbook. (Image courtesy: NY Times)

Critics portray Trump as a misogynist, seeing proof in incidents such as his feud with actress Rosie O'Donnell - whom he disparaged as a "fat p**" - and his suggestions that former presidential rival Carly Fiorina's face made her unelectable.

But the Times, in more than 50 interviews with women associated with Trump over the past four decades, shows a more complex and contradictory image.

There were unwelcome advances on women and plenty of crude commentary on female bodies, the Times reported.

Photo courtesy: Miss Universe Organisation

But Trump also nurtured the careers of several women within his business organisation.

Trump has long been in the public eye as a celebrity real estate mogul, the star of a popular reality TV show, and until recently the man behind Miss Universe and other beauty pageants.

Mr. Trump onstage with Miss USA contestants in 1998. AP

One Miss USA contestant said that in 1997 Trump, who was married to actress Marla Maples at the time, introduced himself and kissed her and other contestants on the lips.

Barbara Res

However Trump also hired Barbara Res as his head of construction in the 1980s, at a time when there were few women in such positions at major construction firms.

Ms. Res and Mr. Trump in 1989. Credit via Barbara A. Res/NY Times

She said that her boss wanted her to be a 'Donna Trump.'

"I know you're a woman in a man's world. And while men tend to be better than women, a good woman is better than 10 good men" . - Barbara Res

Years later, Trump told her "You like your candy," Res told the Times. "It was him reminding me that I was overweight."

Res worked with Trump for 18 years.

Louise Sunshine

He entrusted several women in his company with enormous responsibility - once they had proven themselves worthy and loyal. Ms. Sunshine had little experience in real estate, but as a top campaign fund-raiser for Gov. Hugh Carey of New York, she had fulfilled a lifelong wish for Mr. Trump: She secured him a vanity license plate with his initials, DJT, which adorned his limousine for years, the Times reported.

It's something he had wanted since his father bought him toy cars. By some gift of God, I was able to obtain it for him. He was beyond thrilled. And I became the woman in his life who could do no wrong. And he became the man in my life who was going to be my mentor. - Louise Sunshine, former Trump executive

Ms. Sunshine worked for Mr. Trump for 15 years, becoming a major New York real estate figure in her own right. Ms. Res remained at the company for 12 years, left after a disagreement over a project and then returned as a consultant for six more years. Both expressed gratitude for the chances Mr. Trump had taken on them.

Alan Lapidus

"The respect for women was always there," Alan Lapidus, an architect who designed the Trump Plaza casino in Atlantic City, told the Times. "When he was building his empire, the backbone was women."

He is a lot more complicated than the cartoon character. The top people in his company were women, like Barbara Res. For any company to hire a woman as chief of construction was actually startling. I don't know of a single other developer who had a woman in that position. The respect for women was always there. That's why, in spite of the comments he makes now - and God knows why he says these things - when he was building his empire, the backbone was women. -Alan Lapidus, architect

Trump told the Times that he was proud of his record of hiring and promoting women.

"I have always treated women with great respect. And women will tell you that."

He brushed off the unflattering allegations. "A lot of things get made up over the years," he told the newspaper.

Barbara Fife

Barbara Fife, a deputy New York mayor in the 1990s, recalls Trump telling her at her City Hall office that he was in a hurry because he had "a great date tonight with a model for Victoria's Secret," she told the Times.

"I saw it as immature, quite honestly," Fife was quoted as saying.

At his office in Trump Tower, Mr. Trump seemed eager for his colleagues to hear about his new companion, Ms. Maples. When The New York Post feasted on her supposed satisfaction with him in bed, captured in the headline "Best Date I've Ever Had," Mr. Trump was unabashed, Ms. Res said.

He absolutely loved that. He waved it around the office. "Did you see this?" Everyone who worked there were kind of horrified. We all thought it made him look bad. He didn't. - Barbara Fife

As a candidate, Trump has made frequent references to his record in business as evidence of how American women would benefit if he is elected. He has often said that no one "cherishes" or "respects" women more than him.

Some of those interviewed praised Trump for giving women positions of power.

Jill Martin

"I think there are mischaracterizations about him," Jill Martin, assistant counsel at the Trump Organization, told the Times.

"For me, he's made it a situation where I can really excel at my job and still devote the time necessary for my family." - Jill Martin

The story comes less than two weeks after the last of Trump's Republican rivals dropped out, all but assuring him the party's presidential nomination this summer.

Throughout his improbable campaign, Trump has managed to deflect criticism about his attitude to women, fueled by verbal insults he lobbed at Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly and former Republican candidate Carly Fiorina.