Transcript - Interview: Donald Trump on RNC Convention Floor with Chris Wallace - August 17, 1988 | Factbase

Chris Wallace

00:00:00 - 00:00:11 (11 sec)

Well that's right Tom. One of the interesting things about any national convention is the surprising people who show up on the floor, and here tonight is real estate tycoon and bestselling author Donald Trump.

Donald Trump

00:00:11 - 00:00:13 (2 sec)

Well, thank you very much. I appreciate it.

Chris Wallace

00:00:13 - 00:00:20 (7 sec)

You're welcome. You have flirted with the idea of politics. Now you're here at your first national convention. Does that get you interested in possibly making the plunge?

Donald Trump

00:00:20 - 00:00:21 (1 sec)

Now you have to tell me something. Who told you I flirted?

Chris Wallace

00:00:21 - 00:00:22 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:00:22 - 00:00:23 (1 sec)

I didn't know that I flirted.

Chris Wallace

00:00:23 - 00:00:27 (4 sec)

Well you took out full page ads in The New York Times to talk about your foreign policy. Some people would say...

Donald Trump

00:00:27 - 00:00:37 (10 sec)

I do... I do feel very strongly about the country. I love the country. But I think you're going to have probably George Bush as your next president. He's an excellent guy, an excellent man, he's a friend of mine and I'm here for that reason.

Chris Wallace

00:00:37 - 00:00:40 (3 sec)

Well, I wasn't talking about this year Mr. Trump. But you have said that if you ran for president, you'd win.

Donald Trump

00:00:40 - 00:00:48 (8 sec)

I think I'd have a very good chance. I mean, I like to win. When I do something, I like to win. I like to... I like to do well, and I think I probably would have a pretty good chance.

Chris Wallace

00:00:48 - 00:01:07 (19 sec)

Tom Brokaw mentioned a moment ago that you have prospered in the Reagan years, and some people have said that Ronald Reagan ushered in an era... some people say of greed and conspicuous consumption, and frankly some people say Donald Trump is a conspicuous example of that. You make no apologies about the 100-room mansion in Palm Beach, or the $30 dollar yacht.

Donald Trump

00:01:07 - 00:01:24 (17 sec)

Well, I employ thousands and thousands of people that wouldn't have jobs if it weren't for things that I built. I mean, I employ probably 25 or 30,000 people, and that... these are things that I've done over the last four -or five-year period. And I think that a lot of people are very thankful for that. So I can't make any excuses. I'm very proud of it.

Chris Wallace

00:01:24 - 00:01:29 (5 sec)

One last quick question. Can you laugh with the Doonesbury cartoons about the quality of the solid gold sinks in your yacht?

Donald Trump

00:01:29 - 00:01:41 (12 sec)

Well, everybody tells me I'm supposed to be honored by that. I'm not sure of it's an honor or not, but he said... I mean someday maybe he's going to be able to find another topic. But I certainly seem to be in a lot of his cartoons. I'm not sure if they're good, bad, or indifferent but I guess I'm supposed to be honored.

Chris Wallace

00:01:41 - 00:01:43 (2 sec)

Donald Trump, thanks very much for coming tonight.

Donald Trump

00:01:43 - 00:01:43 (0 sec)

You have a good time.