Trump's military school roommate: Our goal was 'to lead America'

NJ.com ^ | 09.13.15 | Brent Johnson

[Coleus]

Anyone seeking to understand the psyche of Donald Trump might want to visit a nearly century-old packaging company just off Route 19 in Paterson.

There sits Levine Industries, an operation owned by three generations of the same family — most recently by Ted Levine, a 68-year-old businessman who has a few similarities to the billionaire real estate mogul who is now the front runner for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

He doesn't look like Trump. But his personality? "We are going to have the best product that ever existed," Levine exclaimed Friday while discussing an innovative alternative to the hazardous chemical styrene that his company is developing.

The Trump-ness of the comment isn't surprising. As a teenager in the early 1960s, Levine spent a semester as Trump's roommate at the New York Military Academy, an expensive boarding school along the Hudson River. And Levine is quick to explain that both his and Trump's attitudes were molded there.

"The school taught you how to be a leader," the lifelong Paterson resident said. "It taught you: Show me a sore loser, and I'll show you a loser."

That's why, Levine said, he fully understands Trump's mindset — a mix of grandiose confidence and bulldogish aggression that has upended the crowded GOP race and helped Trump grab an unexpected lead in the polls. "I understand it more than you can ever perceive," Levine said. "He is so mentally strong."

Trump's time at the military school just north of New York City became a topic of discussion last week when the New York Times published a report about a new biography about the former Atlantic City casino tycoon and reality television star. According to the report, Trump told the book's author that even though he never served in the armed forces and

[Coleus]

pics and video on link. I bet he never thought his hs roommate would be the president one day.

[gaijin]

Trump was the PERFECT candidate against Hillary.

She’d have won against ANYONE else.

Her- choosing words so carefully that she seemed CRAFTY, deceptive.

Him - rattling things off with such abandon that it was sometimes comical, but HONEST.

He might have lost against anyone else..!

[marktwain]

Yes... Almost as if it there was divine intervention...

[Cowboy Bob]

New York Military Academy, an expensive boarding school along the Hudson River. And Levine is quick to explain that both his and Trump's attitudes were molded there.

Is there such a thing as a cheap boarding school?

[Alberta's Child]

Prison, I guess. LOL.

[Democrat_media]

President elect Trump saved America from Hillary Clinton a communist that would have been total destruction of the USA.

President Hillary Clinton would have flooded the USA with 3rd world immigrants, including millions of Muslim Syrians and other Muslims. FYI there are 7 billion people in the world most of them in poverty , 1.7 billion Muslims in poverty. This alone would have been the end of the USA and freedom. Plus Hillary is a hard core communist who would have imported all these 3rd world immigrants as voters for communism in the USA

http://www.breitbart.com/2016-presidential-race/2016/05/25/clinton-releases-plan-dissolve-us-border-within-100-days/

This is just 1 point that shows we should be extremely thankful Trump beat Hillary and her allies the GOPe and democrats and the media and world establishment to save America

Trump also already stopped TPP(saved U.S. sovereignty) and many companies are saying they will make things in the USA again (Apple, Ford,HP, and many others already).

Ok these are just 3 points . I know hundreds of others that show Trump saved America and that Trump will Make America Great again. Trump hasn't even taken office or had any power yet

[ohioman]

LOL. Now that is funny as hell and true.

[pepsionice]

I had a work-associate who was trying to find an affordable private academy/school for his 13-year old son. I helped him do the research. There were a very limited number in the range of $15,000 a year...most were $20,000 to $30,000 a year. I would challenge any reporter to go and find cheap or affordable boarding schools....they simply don’t exist in the US. Maybe there are still a few left in the UK or Austria.

[Nothingburger]

“We are going to have the best product that ever existed”

I like this guy Levine. He does sound just like The Donald.

[nopardons]

No; not that I have EVER heard or been to.

[nopardons]

Since WHEN is prison the same thing as ab elite boarding prep school ?

[nopardons]

It is NOT “funny” at all; it’s puerile, uneducated, and just p0lain out stupid and offensive!

[nopardons]

Hows long ago was that and was that just tuition or all inclusive?

A GOOD boarding school, today, sans the cost of books, uniforms, travel, clothing, proms, and all the extra "goodies" costs around $50,000 and usually MORE.

[pepsionice]

That was in 2010, and was a bare-bones deal. My associate would have been willing to pay up to $20,000 a year but after I laid everything out....that the better schools were way beyond that...he just gave up on the idea.

Makes me wonder if there is not a business opportunity here. Take in some 13-year old...promise to have him educated up to high school grad-level by 16, and provide two years of junior college-level studies and some degree by age 18. There are all of these private small colleges heading toward financial failure because they can’t convince anyone to pay $20,000 a year for their program. Just make them into junior academy/boarding school projects.

[nopardons]

Did your friend ever investigate scholarships ?

He really needed a good boarding school placement person, but they too are rather pricey.

I like your idea; however, if you leave it up to a going defunct college, it'd be worthless; they don't even get a large portion of kids up to high school level and call it "college" level.

OTOH....the great boarding schools are well worth the money!

[trebb]

"It taught you: Show me a sore loser, and I'll show you a loser."

I have added that to my arsenal.....

[ohioman]

LOL. It was a joke. Did you forget the sarcasm tag?