I get a cookie because I read the whole thing.
The writers inflate the dollars involved by using today’s inflated values. It is highly internally inconsistent, as well. There is a ton of inflammatory language. Lots of use of “may be illegal”. Looks to me that the Trump’s used the standard moves everyone made to avoid taxes confiscatory death taxes.
Contains nary a word of comparison to the Clinton Family Foundation, however. Hahah. No surprise there. Wonder whether would happen if the New York Times would steal Clinton’s tax returns and do a similar analysis with the same amount of zeal. ....nah.
Maybe an oatmeal cookie, rich with raisins and cranberries. A little old fashioned, a little today. Or those peanut butter cookies with the fork mashed in the top and sold in the grammar school cafeteria for 2 or 3 cents.
The Trumps had an estate to be passed on. I doubt the Clintons did. But the Bush family would have, so that’s a comparison that could be made.
Yes, every family looked at how to reduce their death taxes and followed procedures that their accountants recommended. That’s why getting rid of death taxes was such a big deal. My only concern is that Trump is centered in NY and the state government is not one I would trust to do a fair evaluation of what was acceptable at the time, and what was not. Nor would I trust the media to describe what others of the time were doing.
But you CERTAINLY deserve that cookie.